May/June Trumpet by Neighborhoods Partnership Network

ke Ta

rumpet

The

May/June 2013 • Community Voices Orchestrating Change • Issue 7 Volume 3

NEIGH SPOTBORHOOD LIGHT ol

d alg iers

INSIDE • Common Ground Health Clinic Expansion • A Revitalized Algiers Riverview • Health in Algiers Point • History of Old Algiers • Getting on Track with UNO TRAC Photo: Heidi Hickman

Neighborhoods Network’s (NPN) mission is to improve our quality of life by engaging New Orleanians in neighborhood revitalization and civic process. THE TRUMPETPartnership | MAY/JUNE | 2013 1

N E I G H B O R H O O D S

Letter From The Executive Director

NEIGHBORHOODS PARTNERSHIP NETWORK

Photo: Kevin Griffin/2Kphoto

NPN provides an inclusive and collaborative city-wide framework to empower neighborhood groups in New Orleans.

Investing in NOLA’s Greatest Assets, Its Residents Timolynn Sams

recently learned the history behind the Great Wall of China — how it was built, and its connection to the resilience that exists within the Chinese people. Recognized as one of the great wonders of the world, the Great Wall has a history of more than 2000 years. Its architectural grandeur and historical significance make it one of the most appealing attractions around the world. Yet, the mystery behind the Great Wall construction focuses heavily not only on the local resources and physical materials, but also on the people behind the development of this defensive fortress. The completion of the wall demonstrated the wisdom and resilience of all of the people who built it — the soldiers, prisoners and local people. It’s not surprising the Great Wall is incorporated into Chinese mythology and symbolism. Hearing the history of the Great Wall immediately made me think of New Orleans. Like the people in China who built the Great Wall, New Orleans residents returned and invested in rebuilding the city. We’ve ensured the sustainability of our world renowned city, and New Orleans will celebrate its 300th birthday in 2018. Yet, the city of New Orleans, like most of America’s urban centers, is experiencing its own invasion. An invasion of socially inequitable health factors — high levels of poverty along with the fact 27 percent of New Orleanians are low–skilled and lack literacy skills. It is an invasion of socially inequitable health factors — high levels of poverty along with the fact 27 percent of New Orleanians are low–skilled and lack literacy skills, a rate higher than the U.S. average. This information is daunting, but our challenge is clear. The city’s economic competitiveness depends on our ability to have the best workforce in the world. We want a workforce just as competitive as our festivals and gumbos, providing opportunities for all New Orleanians to add their flavor to the pot. If we are going to achieve this, we need to make a significant and sustained investment in our greatest asset — our people. The people who have a genuine love for the city, and want it to be a city to be proud of. After the winds ceased and the waters receded, the people of New Orleans took their rightful place in rebuilding not only their homes, but their neighborhoods and eventually their city. Therefore, it is now time for the city of New Orleans to invest in her people. Now more than ever, workforce development programs in this city must use its renowned creativity, innovation, and ability to adapt to fit the changing needs of New Orleanians. The city of New Orleans must provide its residents with high quality information on best practices, labor market information, emerging sectors, needs of employers, opportunities for collaboration, lessons learned, funding opportunities and new policy directions. Many will celebrate the food, culture, music or even the architecture of the city of New Orleans, but none of this is possible without the people. The people are the resources that will make New Orleans grow and prosper. I am confident that investment in our people will give us the greatest returns.

Find Out More at NPNnola.com

NPN Board Members Victor Gordon, Board Chair, Pontilly Neighborhood Association Wendy Laker, Vice Chair, Mid-City Neighborhood Organization Ryan Albright, CBNO Tim Garrett, Marlyville/Fontainbleau Neighborhood Angela Daliet, Treasurer, Parkview Neighborhood Association Benjamin Diggins, Melia Subdivision

N E T W O R K

Contents

The Trumpet

5 Workforce Development at Cafe Hope 7 Funding a Historic Link Across the Mississippi 9 Investing in New Orleans “Best Kept Secret” 11 A Picturesque Path on the Levee 13 Call to Action: MENTORFEST 15 La Rive Droit, The Right Bank Klass Gives Young Women a Competitive Edge 26 First

23 Homeless Advocacy Through a “Hand Up”

the Next Generation 27 Training to Fight Discrimination

25 Cultivating the Local Film Industry

Katherine Prevost, Upper Ninth Ward Bunny Friend Neighborhood Association Leslie Ellison, Tunisburg Square Civic Homeowners Improvement Association Tilman Hardy, Secretary, Leonidas/Pensiontown Neighborhood Association Sylvia Scineaux-Richard, ENONAC Karen Chabert, Irish Channel Neighborhood Association Third Party Submission Issues Physical submissions on paper, CD, etc. cannot be returned unless an arrangement is made. Submissions may be edited and may be published or otherwise reused in any medium. By submitting any notes, information or material, or otherwise providing any material for publication in the newspaper, you are representing that you are the owner of the material, or are making your submission with the consent of the owner of the material, all information you provide is true, accurate, current and complete. Non-Liability Disclaimers The Trumpet may contain facts, views, opinions, statements and recommendations of third party individuals and organizations. The Trumpet does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information in the publication and use of or reliance on such advice, opinion, statement or other information is at your own risk. Copyright Copyright 2012 Neighborhoods Partnership Network. All Rights Reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of Neighborhoods Partnership Network is expressly prohibited.

NEIGH BORH SPOT OD LIGHO T Ol

16 Neighborhood Spotlight: Old Algiers

d Alg iers

The Trumpet Editorial Board

19 Technical Training to Spur Health Innovation

The Trumpet Editorial Staff

Jim Belfon, Gulf South Photography Project

Scott Bicking, Art Director

Jewel Bush, SEIU Local 21 LA

Tara Foster, Policy and Advocacy Editor

Christy Chapman, Author Heidi Hickman, Resident

Melissa Garber, Editor

Elton Jones, New Orleans Rising

Remeka Jones, Julia Kahn & Greg Lawson, Associate Neighborhoods Editors

Naomi King, Prevention Research Center

Nora McGunnigle, Local History Editor

Mike Madej, Resident Linedda McIver, AARP Louisiana Ray Nichols, Maple Area Residents Inc. Brian Opert, Talk Show Host, WGSO 990AM Valerie Robinson, Old Algiers Main Street Corporation Melinda Shelton, Xavier University School of Journalism

Timolynn Sams

P A R T N E R S H I P

NEIGHBORHOODS PARTNERSHIP NETWORK

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

4902 Canal Street • #301 New Orleans, LA 70119 504.940.2207 • FX 504.940.2208 thetrumpet@npnnola.com www.npnnola.com 3

To the Residents of Old Algiers & NPN

s your City Councilmember for District “C”, I am thrilled that this issue of the Trumpet highlights Old Algiers – a neighborhood that is near and dear to my heart. Old Algiers is one of New Orleans’ hidden gems. It is where I have lived for years with my own family. Many of our homes, churches, and community institutions date back to the mid-to-late 19th century – even our Mississippi River ferries. In recent years, the community has strived to make sure that Old Algiers is not forgotten as part of our City’s collection of unique neighborhoods. As Councilmember for District “C”, I have advocated for Old Algiers and for all of Algiers. We are beginning to see the fruits of that labor. After many years of anticipation, the Berhman Stadium Sports Complex (a $12 million project) will begin construction this summer. In April, I kicked off my Greening Algiers initiative with Hike for KaTreena. We will plant

several hundred trees throughout the year. I have supported having more job training and GED programs on the West Bank for young people and adults. I am working to ensure that the redevelopment of Federal City creates opportunities for all of our communities. Finally, I have ensured that the Algiers levee bicycle and walking path is extended so more residents can access the ferries and resources along the river. I am advocating for the path to be extended to the Chalmette Ferry. These initiatives and many more are helping to build an Old Algiers that is more vibrant and more equitable. Public-private partnerships and the engagement of community leaders from Old Algiers have helped make these projects possible. Thank you for using this issue of the Trumpet to showcase our city’s progress in the area of workforce development and to reflect on what makes Old Algiers unique. Warmest regards,

Workforce Development

Main Ingredient at Café Hope By: Mike Madej, Editorial Board, NPN

Kristin Gisleson Palmer, New Orleans City Council, District “C”

Orleans Parish School Board Vice President’s

Educational Updates By: Leslie Ellison, NPN Board Member, Vice President of the Orleans Parish School Board representing District 4. She is also chair of the board’s budget and finance committee. Ms. Ellison is a lifelong resident of the Tunisburg/McClendonville community in Algiers.

t is an honor to represent my community and the children of New Orleans on the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB). Many important decisions regarding the future and education of thousands of New Orleans children are made on a regular basis. My commitment to parents and the community is to make sure that they are kept abreast about what’s taking place in District 4. The following updates provide a brief overview of my first quarter in office and commitment to serving with transparency.

District 4: Education Points of Impact Education Leadership Appointments With backing from my colleagues on the Orleans Parish School Board, I have assumed two key leadership positions on the board: Vice President of the board and Chair of the Budget & Finance Committee, which oversees the school board’s general fund of over $42.6 million.

Congratulations Class of 2013 I would like to salute all 2013 high school graduates. I’m proud of your accomplishments and wish you well in your future endeavors.

OPSB to Study OneApp Process

on New Orleans’ cable access network. The series will highlight education news and updates. The “Impacting a Generation” newsletter will also be distributed quarterly as a public service commitment to the community.

Stance on Rebuilding School Facilities It costs billions to rebuild New Orleans’ education facilities. It is important for those monies to stay within the local communities to help the families and businesses who need them most. This is why Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs exist—to help qualified disadvantaged businesses gain access to these opportunities. Unfortunately, challenges remain within the Recovery School District’s DBE component on existing school construction projects. On one project, it was reported that DBEs are providing about 2.82 percent of the work on a $32 million project. The goal is 25 percent DBE participation. At the end of the day, these construction jobs must be granted with fairness to benefit working class families and disadvantaged businesses.

SUNO to Open Westbank Satellite Campus Southern University at New Orleans, through a partnership with the Algiers Charter School Association, will host a satellite campus at the L.B. Landry site beginning next school year. The initiative will offer college level courses to students and members of the community.

Students Gear up for Lemonade Day Louisiana Lemonade Day teaches business ownership skills to youth. This year’s event will take place Saturday, May 4. To register, learn more, or find supply pick-up locations, visit www.louisiana.lemonadeday.org.

OPSB participated in the city wide OneApp student enrollment process for the first time this year. The Board recently approved a measure to determine the overall and cost effectiveness of this process. This is important for accountability and budgeting purposes, one of our goals is to determine how public funds were invested into this process. I look forward to receiving and reporting these findings.

Enrollment Opportunities

Community Engagement Commitment

Stay Informed

Parental involvement and community engagement are vital to successfully transforming education in our community. I am pleased to announce the launch of “Impacting a Generation with Leslie Ellison,” which will air weekly

Please join my mailing list at www.leslieellison.com and become a Facebook friend at www.facebook.com/LeslieAEllison. I can also be reached at leslie_ellison@opsb.us

Benjamin Franklin Elementary is currently accepting applications for the Pre-K enrollment.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

Crawfish bruschetta is one of many creative culinary options on the menu at Cafe Hope. Photo Credit: Heidi Hickman

The first thing I noticed when I sat down with Luis Arocha Jr., the Executive Director of Café Hope, and Michael Alphonse Jr., a soon to be graduate of the Apprenticeship program, were the smiles beaming across both of their faces. The hard work Michael put into the program paid off. He successfully completed the Apprenticeship program and will begin his culinary career in a John Besh restaurant.

uis said seeing graduates like Michael complete the program is very rewarding. “Not only is it nice to see young people finish the program, but we have a 72 percent job placement rate among our graduates,” he noted. “In addition to culinary skills we provide our students with a combination of life skills and spirituality classes to develop Michael Alphonse, Jr. a well rounded individual ready to face the challenges of both the workforce and life.” Michael smiled and said he couldn’t agree more. “Before the program I didn’t use the term ‘self-sufficient’,” he explained. “But this program helped teach self-sufficiency.” The life skills classes helped him develop a roadmap to focus on his future. “My goal is to be a chef in a restaurant and

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

eventually open a restaurant of my own here in New Orleans first, and then one in Philly.” Graduates from the program receive a little lagniappe with the help of the Café Hope Workplace Advocacy Program, developed by Tim Falcon, the Board Chair and co-founder of Café Hope. Community volunteers advocate for the graduates for one year after graduation. The process is simple; an advocate calls the employer once a week for the first three months, then once every-other week for the following two months and then once a month for the latter half of the year. Pairing advocates with graduates provides a support system to help work through job related issues and develop a more stable employee. As we left the conference room and headed toward the kitchen I heard the banging of pots and pans and I noticed Michael’s face come alive. “It’s their first day,” he said with a grin as the new students frantically moved throughout the kitchen. He stood there, watching them prep for the day’s lunch rush and explained to me the excitement of the kitchen. “The pace is real fast,” he said. “It’s real important to make sure the dishes look presentable. Knowing how to work with people in the kitchen to make this happen is extremely important.” Luis continued the tour outside to showcase the vegetable garden Café Hope students maintain. At Café Hope, not only are the aspiring chefs homegrown, but so are all the vegetables used in the dishes. In a field on the grounds of the historic Hope Haven Campus lies Café Hope’s garden.“Last year 35 percent of our veggies came from our garden, our goal for next year is to grow 70 percent of our veggies.” Luis explained, as he looked out over the plots. “Seed to table, that’s our aim. All ingredients are local,” he continued. “Every week our chefs go to the farmers markets to do the grocery shopping. The fish is from the gulf and the meat and remaining vegetables are from nearby farms.” Luis then recalled a funny story. “Most of the time people buy white eggs, but as you may know, eggs can come in a range of different colors depending on the type of chicken. One day our chef brought back eggs with a bluish hue and the students thought the egg had gone bad. But it was a great learning moment, as our chef explained that eggs can come in many different colors, even blue.” He emphasized the significance of chefs teaching students the environmental benefits of using local ingredients. Ninety-five percent of all ingredients used at Café Hope are locally sourced. It’s all part of the long term goal to help graduates become creative and socially conscious professionals. While looking over the garden, Luis talked about the future of Café Hope. “Chef teaches how to pickle foods and make jam. We are looking for opportunities to create spinoff business for the program.” Back in the dining room, Luis directed the group to a table for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised by the menu. In addition to the three course fixed lunch featuring New Orleans staples, the chefs showcase their culinary creativity with dishes like crawfish bruschetta and oyster B.L.T.’s. The opportunities provided by Café Hope are truly a resource for the West Bank and Orleans and Jefferson Parish. Too often employers complain that the workforce is underdeveloped, but Café Hope works hard to solve this problem. Under the guidance of head chefs Fred Miner and Melissa Martin, the kitchen staff shares their 80 plus years of restaurant experience with students. Each student works six weeks in the kitchen and six weeks running the floor. The skills learned during those 12 weeks range from knife skills, to presentation skills, to learning how to work the point of sales device. The culmination of these skills allows every graduate to earn a ServSafe certificate - a food and beverage safety training course administered by the National Restaurant Association. continued on page 6

Providing comprehensive workforce development for the community doesn’t come easy, or cheap. With dwindling parish, state and federal funds, Café Hope heavily relies on the support of the community. “We just really need people to come eat lunch hear,” Luis said. So, if you are looking to help a worthy cause or just enjoy a delicious lunch get out and enjoy lunch at Café Hope. The Café Hope Apprenticeship program is a competitive 13-week program that provides comprehensive on-the-job skills training to teach young adults how to work at and run a fully operating restaurant. Applicants must be 17-21and meet the eligibility requirements listed on the Café Hope website. For more information or to volunteer as an advocate, contact Milton Atebara at milton@cafehope.org or call 504.347.0772.

Cucumber Lime Mint Aqua Fresca:

Ingredients: • 2 cucumbers chopped • 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice • 1 handful of fresh mint • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 1/4 cup water

Steps:

Place all of the ingredients into a blender. Blend until purified. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Serve over ice. Serves four.

Open for lunch Tuesday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Now open for Friday Night Suppers 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays Only. Prix-Fixe Menu. BYOB. Limited seating. Reservations recommended. Catering is also available. Please call us at 504.756.HOPE (4673) for more information.

Funding a Historic Link Across the Mississippi By: Adelaide Abele, Lead Organizer Ride New Orleans and Kelsey Foster, Algiers Resident and Communications Coordinator, New Orleans Coalition on Open Governance (NOCOG)

Riders that use the ferry said that without the ferry, their commute would be...

Café Hope is located at: 1101 Barataria Blvd., Marrero, LA 70072 (Just 10 minutes from the New Orleans Central Business District)

Common Ground Health Clinic Plans Expansion, New Services & Farmers Market By: Naomi King, Editorial Board, NPN

he patients and staff at Common Ground Health Clinic are seeing major expansions this year – not only of services at the clinic but also services in the community, such as a new farmers’ market opening this summer. Often described as “the little clinic that could,” Common Ground is proving itself to be a growing player in the movement to improve community health through unity and solidarity. “Common Ground has always had a mission to be patient-centered,” said Meshawn Tarver, executive director of the clinic at 1400 Teche Street. “We provide healthcare through collaborative partners. We want to work with like-minded organizations.” Among its expansion projects this year, the clinic is helping establishing a new farmers’ market in partnership with Old Algiers Main Street Corporation. The Pride of Algiers Masonic Temple at 922 Teche Street will host the market, which will include produce from the clinic’s community garden and other vendors, music and kids’ activities, Tarver said. The market will be open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays. The clinic will connect patients to the farmers’ market through produce prescriptions that providers will write to promote fresh fruits and vegetables. In 2011, Common Ground tested the produce prescription model with a small group of 20 women, who also attended weekly sessions for fitness, nutrition, stress relief and other wellness programs. On average, the women lost five pounds, Tarver said. Also in the works is a new location for the clinic, which is currently in an historic corner grocery store. “We’re busting through the seams,” Tarver said. “We’re in need for a bigger space.” Though a new clinic space hasn’t been finalized, the plans are in motion. Already this year, the clinic’s healthcare providers have grown from one-to-two providers to five-to-seven providers, Tarver said. Overall, the staff and volunteers number 35 people. Services are also growing, with new care for pregnant women and overall gynecology, which is specialized care for the female reproductive system, starting this summer. The clinic

already offers psychiatry services via video teleconferencing. Herbalist consultations – a hallmark of the Common Ground holistic approach – are also ongoing. Even with a growing cadre of workers, services and programs, the feeling of family is intact and the mission to provide quality healthcare is strong. More than 75 percent of patients who visit the clinic return. Among the services that foster the family atmosphere is the goal for patient-centered care. For instance, patients who speak Spanish and Portuguese can have a medical interpreter with them only to translate but to advocate for their needs. Also, staff members counsel patients so they leave knowing as much about their health as their provider does. The Common Ground Health Clinic’s care team looks beyond healthcare to assist patients with other needs, such as housing or financial assistance to pay bills. “Our patients are happier; and they continue to return,” Tarver said. “We treat them like family.”

Upcoming Neighborhood Event Common Ground Health Clinic is having a Neighborhood Day on May 10. Staff will walk through the neighborhood conducting outreach and end up at the clinic’s future garden on Nunez and Newton streets for a neighborhood party from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Photos: Narda Hernandez-Diaz, coordinator of the Latino Health Outreach Project at Common Ground Health Clinic, brings her son, Calebe, to a staff meeting. Common Ground Health Clinic has always had the mission to create a sense family among its staff and patients. Common Ground Health Clinic is housed at 1400 Tech Street in an historic corner grocery store. The clinic started on September 9, 2005, just days after hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. After Hurricane Isaac in 2012 damaged the clinic’s sign, a new one was recently installed.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

I would not be able to get to my destination 22%

Moderately Difficult 26%

Very Difficult 43%

Not Difficult 9% “In 1953 my mother had to go across on the Algiers ferry to get to Mercy hospital while she was in labor with me. At that time there was no GNO or CCC bridge. If we had the same leaders we have today, I guess I would have been born on the levee,” –Mary Singletary told Ride New Orleans.

ingletary is not the only New Orleanian with a personal connection to the greater New Orleans ferries, which have been in operation since 1827. The Algiers/Canal Street ferry currently has the fourth highest ridership of any ferry in the United States. However, even though it carries 1.1 million pedestrians and 175,000 cars annually, the Algiers/Canal street ferry is set to close after June 30, 2013. For many, confusion over funding makes following the ferry debate difficult. To date, funding for the CCC and the ferries is completely separate. Should the vote on May 4th reinstate the tolls, none of the future toll money will go towards operating the ferries. Currently the Department of Transportation and Development runs the ferries, but the Dept. has not publicly stated they have plans to find a way to continue ferry service after the funding to operate has dried up. Most important in the debate are the East and West Bank residents who rely on the ferry to get to work, make groceries, or even catch throws at Mardi Gras parades. According to a recent survey conducted by Ride New Orleans, 51 percent of regular ferry riders use the service to get to and from work, often in the Central Business District or French Quarter hotels. New Orleans resident Benjamin Lary added, “I rely on the ferry tremendously to get to work to avoid traffic congestions, price gouging from parking garages, and to ensure I can get to work when there is no place to park. It is how I make ends meet. I cannot work in downtown New Orleans if there is no ferry.”

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

More than 60 percent of respondents for Ride New Orleans online survey ride daily or weekly, meaning a lack of ferry service will cause a major uptick in traffic on the Crescent City Connection, a shortage of parking in the CBD and other areas, and will mean that multitudes of regular ferry riders without a vehicle will be unable to make it to work, to the hospital, or to see friends and family on the other side of the Mississippi river. Since there has been so much confusion over the past few years, we’d like to debunk some common myths about New Orleans ferries, and offer a few facts, as well.

Myth: Funding for New Orleans ferries is connected to the Crescent City Connection Fact: For the past several decades, the Crescent City Connection bridge tolls provided a dedicated source of funding for the ferries. When the State Legislature decided to put the question of whether or not to continue the tolls out to a public vote in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard Parishes, they added a provision to prohibit the tolls from funding the ferries - even if voters did choose to extend the tolls. With toll funding no longer available for the ferries, the State Legislature failed to provide other funding mechanisms for maintaining ferry service.

Myth: The ferry is just for tourists Fact: Ride New Orleans surveyed over 1,500 ferry riders over a two day period in April. While it’s true that many tourists love and appreciate the ferry for a tourist experience, our preliminary results show that 41 percent of residents are riding the ferry daily, 21 percent ride weekly, and 51 percent use the ferry to get to and from work.

Myth: The state will figure it out, or “they will find money somehow.” Fact: We’ve heard this one a lot, and we’re certainly keeping our fingers crossed. There are a couple of bills being introduced - namely, SB 215 by Senator David Heitmeier, but it has a long way to go before passing. We must put pressure on our State Representatives and Legislators to act. If they do not, it is very likely the Gretna and Algiers ferries will be cut altogether.

Myth: Privatization failed Fact: The State DOTD attempted to privatize the ferries in Fall 2012 releasing a Request for Proposals for a private company to come in and operate the ferry. The structure of the deal that the DOTD put together was not attractive to private firms and ultimately no one responded. However, privatization is not off the table. SB 215 by Sen. Heitmeier would allow the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission to oversee a new privatization effort for the ferries.

If you don’t want to see New Orleans ferries go under, visit rideneworleans.nationbuilder.com to join our campaign to save the ferries, or email adelaide@rideneworleans.org for more information. 7

Investing in New Orleans’ ‘Best Kept Secret’: ARTinA By: Jennifer Blanchard, Acting President ARTinA, Artist/Botanist, Owner of Nola Potter L.L.C.

Craige Cultural Center

An Empowering Community Space Since 1973 By: Remeka Jones, Associate Neighborhoods Editor, NPN

he property at 1800 Newtown Street has undergone several transformations since Dr. Thomas Craige purchased it in 1973. Dr. Craige, the first African American chiropractor in New Orleans, operated the Craige Chiropractic Center at the location. He provided physicals and health assessments for neighborhood children and residents. He also sponsored community events like Sickle Cell Awareness walks. Dr. Craige’s mission was to heal and empower the people of his community and city, not just physically but economically and mentally as well. Through his real estate business, he helped many low income families rehabilitate their finances and become homeowners, an important component of building generational wealth. Dr. Craige wasn’t the only member of the family with a passion for helping the community, his wife Mrs. Loyce Craige was also very active in the community. A second grade elementary school teacher and former Miss Dillard, Mrs. Craige was deeply invested in the community. After the passing of Dr. Craige, Mrs. Craige changed the name of the location to the Craige Professional Building, where she continued to assist families with obtaining homeownership. In the mid 1980s, she and a friend began a teen pregnancy prevention program. In addition to these ventures, she also operated a daycare and early childhood learning center called Cabbage Patch Kids Daycare.

Today the legacy of Dr. and Mrs. Craige survives through their sons, Todd, Vince, and Kristian. In 2004, the brothers renamed the space the Craige Cultural Center as a renewed commitment to their parents, themselves, and the community. The center serves as a space to combat many of the social ills plaguing low income communities such as violence and illiteracy through arts and culture. The Craige Cultural Center is a multi-cultural, multi-purpose center that seeks to empower the community through many of its past and present programs. In the past the center provided GED preparation, food drives, feed the community events, health fairs, a Jena six fundraiser, and a computer lab. The center currently houses an open event space for all occasions and a professional screen printing business. Revenues from the two businesses go to fund the center’s social and community programs, and its overhead costs. Current programs include movie night, tutoring for all ages and subjects (by appointment only), and a Mardi Gras Indian Beading class for children.

For more information regarding the Craige Cultural Center and its services please call 504.655.0390 or 504.421.1204

A Revitalized Algiers Riverview By: Beryl Ragas, Algiers Riverview Association President

lgiers Riverview is one of the oldest settled areas of New Orleans and is one of the neighborhoods that makes up Old Algiers, established in 1719. Originally part of the land grant to Jean Baptist LeMoyne, Sieur de Bienvlle, it was part of what was known as the King’s Plantation Later John McDonogh owned a large tract of land that stretches into what is now Jefferson Parish, and his freed slaves and other people of color lived in a part of Riverview then known as Freetown. Many slaves produced crops like corn, rice and indigo on the site. In 1769, the Spanish took control of Louisiana, and sold the Algiers land to various homesteaders for cultivation and development. John McDonogh owned a parcel large enough to bear his name, the town of McDonoghville. Known as a miser most of his life, it was later revealed he accumulated wealth for the benefit of the poor and enslaved. Although his plan allowed slaves to purchase their freedom and re-settle to Africa, not all of them accepted the offer to leave. Many free people of color remained in Algiers to open their own businesses or work as laborers in many of the industrial ventures of the time, including shipbuilding and other maritime commerce, sawmills, lumber mills and later, railroads. The Southern Pacific Railroad, situated on the land bound by Patterson Street, the Donner Canal, Atlantic Avenue and Thayer Street, provided employment for many in the community, both black and white. By the turn of the 20th century, jazz music was developing on the banks of the Mississippi River, and the Riverview community had its share of pioneering musicians. The Bocage family, Henry “Red” Allen, Kid Thomas Valentine, George Lewis, L.B. Landry (also a physician), Emmett Hardy,

Freddie Kohlman, Manuel Manetta, the Matthews brothers and many others called the Riverview community home at one time or another. By the 1940s, Riverview’s numerous nightclubs were frequented by people who came from around the city and from out of town to hear live entertainment. Since the 1970s when the railroad yard closed and the oil industry began to shrink, there has been considerable disinvestment in the Riverview community. Evidenced by many vacant lots and blighted properties. Its oncevibrant social scene is all but gone. However, it is still a solid neighborhood with lots of folks who have lived there all their lives. It has one of the lowest crime rates in the city, and has many churches, and one of the top-rated schools, Behrman Elementary, part of the Algiers Charter Schools. It also has a brand new, state-of-the-art high school, L.B. Landry, and the Federal City project, which is redeveloping the Navy Base to a command center for all the Armed Forces. It’s also close to Delgado Community College’s West Bank campus. Additionally, Algiers Riverview Association, Old Algiers Main Street Corporation and Preserving Historic Algiers Community Corporation are all working to preserve its rich history and culture and to foster both commercial and residential redevelopment. The Salvation Army and the Jaeger Foundation are working to build new affordable homes, and the Federal City complex promises to bring increased interest to this hidden gem nestled in the curve of the Mississippi River in the City of New Orleans. Until the last 30 or so years, you could live, work and shop right there, and that’s what we want to see happen again.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

lgiers Point is New Orleans “Best Kept Secret” when it comes to neighborhoods. Many locals and tourist are completely unaware of the charm and splendor that lie on the other side of that great divide - the mighty Mississippi River. For many decades performers, musicians, artists, actors and celebrities alike have sought refuge in the quiet corners of the Point. The famous jazz musician Henry “Red” Allen grew up in Algiers, just one well known example of artistic contributions that Algiers has made to the city’s rich cultural history. Recent residents include musicians such as Susan Cowsill, Theresa Anderson, Rick Trolsen, Stanton Moore, and Glen David Andrews just to name a few. Along with the musical talent there is a large colony of visual artists living and working in the Point, and recently a group of them got together to discuss the fate of ARTinA (ART in Algiers). ARTinA is a nonprofit organization established in 1996 with a mission to promote and advance interest, education and participation as artists of all genres in the community. ARTinA lost many of its members due to their displacement in the wake of hurricane Katrina. Since then the organization has struggled to increase its membership. In 2013, along with most of the city, Algiers Point has undergone a post Katrina period of revival. With that said, ARTinA is breathing a breath of new life and creativity along with economic development into the Point with new studios, galleries, and artist venues popping up around every corner.

This year for the first year ever, ARTinA members will be included as vendors in participation with the Wednesday on the Point concert series. Staple tourist destinations in Algiers Point like Rosetree Glass Studio, the Jazz Walk of Fame, and The Old Point Bar are treasured landmarks in the community that have seen an increase in visitors. All of these wonderful bright points stand at risk if the Canal Street ferry loses its current source of funding. Many other businesses in the Point will be adversely affected by the loss of the ferry. All of these businesses in Algiers Point generate income and tax revenue for the city of New Orleans. It seems as an artist in New Orleans it is a constant upstream battle to prove your value to the community and to receive recognition for your talent. Yet New Orleans would be nothing without Jazz, Jackson Square, and the French Quarter galleries. When the checks and balances are made at the end of the day let’s all hope that our city invests in its best interest the people that live here. People that are artists, artists that keep this city alive, singing, dancing, creating, painting, and performing each day and night. Artists that invest tireless hours to keep the New Orleans economy flowing and provide tourists entertainment.

For a list of ARTinA members, galleries, and shows please follow the link and like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/ARTinA-Art-in-Algiers

Preserving Algiers Point By: Anne Kotch, Secretary, Algiers Point Association Board

Photo: Heidi Hickman

he Algiers Point Association (APA) was established as a resident civic organization in 1972 and has been an important force in the progress and success of our community ever since. The APA was originally formed to promote historic interest, preserve the architectural integrity and to promote the civic betterment and social improvement of the residents of Algiers Point. Algiers Point is bounded by Atlantic and Newton Streets and the Mississippi River. The APA is a 501(c)4 -- a non-profit social welfare organization--continuing to work hard to implement and expand its original goals. Through the efforts of the APA, the Algiers Point Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The area became a city Historic District in 1994. The APA strives to preserve and promote. There are several annual events held in the point each year. The APA sponsors the Home and Garden Tour. It was one of the first neighborhood sponsored tours in the city and continues to serve as a tool to showcase and to instill pride in the community. For eight weeks each summer, beginning the first week in July, Wednesdays on the Point brings well known musical acts to the stage set up by the ferry landing. Local artists showcase

their wares and food vendors provide sustenance for the hungry patrons. The APA produces a walking tour brochure to market our historic neighborhood. It is produced and distributed by the Marketing and Tourism Development Committee. In addition the APA also works alongside Friends of the Ferry to preserve the ferry service for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The APA also publishes a quarterly newspaper, hosts a website and provides an ongoing e-mail network to keep residents informed on news events and crime prevention. There are monthly open community meetings to address the needs of the residents and businesses. The Algiers Point neighborhood is also known for its spring porch sale, Treasures from the Point. The organization sponsors an annual Night Out Against Crime community celebration as well as a number of seasonal membership appreciation parties. The Board of Directors works tirelessly to make sure our community voice is represented at major meetings, like City Council sessions. Volunteers work on the various APA committees which include Membership, Fire and Crime Prevention, Newspaper, and Home Tour. Each month the APA hosts an open Community Meeting featuring guest speakers addressing various topics of interest. These meetings offer an opportunity to build camaraderie with other residents as well as discuss committee ad genders. The meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Come and meet new neighbors and socialize with friends. Learn what the APA can do for you and for your neighborhood. Algiers Point is one of the city’s best kept secrets and truly a great place to call home.

Each month the APA hosts an open Community Meeting featuring guest speakers addressing various topics of interest.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

Growing More Than Food By: Maria Etkind

One unseasonably balmy night in February, I watched “Soul Food Junkies,” a PBS Independent Lens film by Byron Hurt. It made me think about my neighborhood and the food options available to residents, both rich and poor. It made me realize there is a huge racial divide where I live. I have always known that, but now it appeared more striking than ever.

iving in Algiers Point you can’t help but notice the socio-economic differences and conditions from one side of Opelousas Avenue to the other. We have a convenience store on the corner of Verret Street and Opelousas that predominantly serves fried food and soft drink to a mostly African American clientele. The other corner convenience stores offer the same fare, with very few healthy food options. The one small grocery that offers limited fresh food sells it at a high price. If you are low-income, “The Point” is a food desert. As I was thinking about all of this, I remembered my neighbor telling me about the community garden next door to the convenience store on Opelousas Avenue. She gardened there for a few years and had a coop with two chickens. There were gardeners there before, but the garden had definitely seen better days. It had been over a decade since the garden was fully utilized. I walked by there last summer on my way to get a snowball with my son and asked myself, “Why is this place abandoned? Why is it so over-grown? Was this a thriving garden at one point? What happened? Who owns it?” And after watching the PBS program, I decided to take on a new challenger and fix the garden. I came into this without any gardening knowledge of how community gardens work. I asked my neighbor more questions and found out that Martin Behrman Elementary School owned the garden and it was designated as a Parkway Partners schoolyard garden. I contacted Parkway Partner’s programming director, Susannah Burley. She is in charge of helping schools with their gardens and assisting community gardens, as well as other types of programming for Parkway Partners. I found out this garden had fallen through the cracks and the school was too busy to keep up with its maintenance. Susannah quickly became my best resource to get the garden cleaned up. She helped me find volunteers, and after two big cleanup efforts, the lot started to look like a garden. She then asked me to be lead gardener for the Algiers-Behrman Community Garden. I heartily accepted the challenge.

For the first three-to-four weeks, we devoted our free time to garden cleanup. We removed the creosote railroad ties, we cut back plants, we filled holes, we weeded. My husband, son, neighbors and friends worked almost every weekend in the garden. I met with Susannah to discuss garden maintenance and progress every week. She talked to Behrman Elementary to make sure they were back on board. I talked to International School in the neighborhood to see if they were interested in a school plot. The most serendipitous and wonderful thing that happened was meeting a lot of neighbors who stopped by to learn about what was going on and thank us for cleaning things up. Some were even seasoned gardeners who ultimately joined in and took on one of the garden plots. Once things were cleaned out, we enjoyed a sense of accomplishment: in a month and a half, we went from a blank slate to a fully developed garden space. All 13 plots were adopted by 10 families, and many have been outfitted as raised beds, neatly bordered by cinderblock or wood. Several have trellises for beans, cucumbers and squash. All the beds have plants in the ground, soaking up the sun and growing fast. We’ve received in-kind donations from neighbors who aren’t gardening. Some donated soil, plants, tools or money. The donations are used to build raised beds for Behrman and ISL. Susannah, Nell and the rest of the staff at Parkway Partners have been immensely supportive and helpful, from providing volunteers and plants, to allowing us to borrow tools, or just answering questions. Behrman Elementary donated water and power in the garden, and the use of their dumpster for refuse. When I started this journey, I didn’t know where it would take me. But I learned know that you are part of a community and if you don’t like something, it’s your job to make time to change your life, your community and your environment. I met great new people and can now call myself a proud gardener. My hopes for the future are that this garden can go on and feed our minds, souls, bodies and that we can share our produce with all our neighbors on both sides of Opelousas Avenue in Old Algiers.

To learn more about the community garden visit Facebook: Algiers Behrman Community Garden.

Algiers Riverview Neighborhood

A New Look in a Big Way By: Jeff Fielden

or the past five years, The Algiers Redevelopment Foundation New Construction Program (ARFNCP), the Jaeger Foundation, The New Orleans Salvation Army and Algiers Riverview Association have partnered up. Taking inspiration from the late Reverend Arthur Wardsworth, they delivered a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve the quality of life for previous and new residents of Old Algiers. The goal of this collaborative effort was to provide high quality, sustainable, and workforce homes to Pre-Katrina Gulf Coast residents with a desire to rebuild within the historic Algiers Riverview community. They also were required to meet minimum program qualification guidelines. The New Home program resulted in 17 attractive, eye-catching and beautiful brand new, high quality and sustainable workforce homes at

over $2.5 million in new home value to the community. These entirely new energy efficient homes offer 900 to 1400 sq. feet of living space with five unique two and three bedroom floor plans. They are constructed to LEED (Leadership in Environmental Engineering and Design) certified design standards, which means they are totally energy efficient. In addition, they also have high-end amenities like top-quality granite countertops, ceramic floor tile in the kitchen and baths, nine foot ceilings, refrigerator/freezers, washer/dryers and several other energy efficient touches. Algiers Riverview Association President, Beryl Ragas, said “The new homes have helped our community by bringing in families and positive role models. We are happy to have this positive contribution to support the restoration of Riverview.”

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

Old Algiers Takes Advantage of State Creative Communities Initiative

Old Algiers Main Street Corporation submitted the successful rtists, musicians and writers have made their homes in Old application accepted into the program, and was assigned a trained Algiers for more than two centuries, enjoying the village-like community coach, Liz Williams, executive director of the Southern Food and ambiance and proximity to the bustle of downtown New Beverage Museum. Ms. Williams led the first few meetings Orleans. Still, there is room for growth in where the group brainstormed ideas for making Old Algiers this 300-year-old section of the city, and Ms. Williams led the a welcoming place for artists and strengthening its role in a new program offered by the Louisiana Department first few meetings the burgeoning cultural economy. Next, the group began of Culture, Recreation and Tourism is helping the where the group development of a “mind map” outlining specific “spheres” community plot its course for the future. brainstormed ideas that will move the community toward a more viable creative Creative Communities is a program that joins a for making Old community. diverse pool of leaders, artists and elected officials Algiers a welcoming “This is an opportunity to create a brand for Old Algiers to work on a set of creative place-making goals. place for artists and that highlights the many assets we possess, although they are Old Algiers is one of only ten Louisiana communities strengthening its role not widely known,” said Valerie Robinson, president of Old selected for the program and it is the only one in New in the burgeoning Algiers Main Street Corporation. “Our community group is Orleans. Goals include attracting more artists, making cultural economy. accepting the challenge to create a better quality of life for the area more welcoming for the arts, promoting current and future businesses and to draw more culture-based cultural tourism, creating vibrant cultural districts and commercial development. In the end, this will be part of a larger solution to taking advantage of the growing creative economy. the issues facing urban communities today.” The area already boasts a Main Street community and a stateMeetings will continue through September, when a final product is due designated Cultural District. It is working with the City Planning Commission to CRT. Upon completion, Old Algiers Main Street Corporation will receive to develop a Cultural Overlay District in the Comprehensive Zoning a seed grant to assist in accomplishing its creative place-making goals. Ordinance that is supposed to be adopted in 2013.

A Picturesque Path on the Levee By: Alexandra S. Wommack

new Mississippi River levee walking and bike path, commissioned by the Algiers Development District, is currently underway for the Algiers’ community. Construction for the $2.8 million Phase I project kicked off in November 2012 and is proposed to be completed in September 2013. “This hiking and biking path will offer residents of our community the opportunity to exercise on a much-improved and safely paved path,” Kathy Lynn Honaker, Algiers Development District Executive Director, said. “The picturesque view of the Mississippi River and the east bank is an added bonus to utilizing this new recreational space.” The improvements to the area include building a 2.05 mile, 10-footwide asphalt path with lamp posts every 150 feet. The path will also include park benches, dog waste stations and a water fountain. Phase I stretches from the Algiers Point ferry terminal to the former Todd Shipyard site, just past Federal City. The second phase would extend the path another 3.6 miles, from the shipyard site to the Chalmette-Algiers ferry terminal. The second phase is expected to begin once the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes their plans to raise the levee elevation in various areas along the path. This path will benefit residents across Orleans Parish, especially those that travel the ferry to and from work. The path and ferry connect the two largest economic development projects in New Orleans – Federal City and the VA Hospital.

Get connected to the Neighborhoods Partnership Network. THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

“Special thanks to the members of the Algiers Development District Board, Architects Sizeler Thompson Brown, Julien Engineering Consulting, the Algiers Economic Development Foundation, community members, military leaders and Craig Mitchell and the City Planning Commission for being instrumental in the rezoning process of the levee for recreational use as well as Durr Construction for helping to bring this project to fruition,” Rep. Jeff Arnold, D-Algiers and Algiers Development District Board chairman, said. Marines who work at the Marine Corps Support Facility, close to Federal City, look forward to the path’s completion - most of them use the levee to run or include it in their fitness tests. The new trail will improve the quality of life for all joggers, bicyclists and residents in the area who will use the path daily. The Algiers Development District of the City of New Orleans is a special taxing district created by state legislation. The special taxing district is comprised of all territory within the fifteenth ward of Orleans Parish. The district’s mission is to provide professional leadership governed by the highest ethical principles in the development of a world-class community for Algiers residents, schools and businesses.

For more information, please visit www.algiersdevelopment.com

Post news & events for your organization at NPNnola.com 11

Health in Algiers Point

By: The HealthyNOLA Team

lgiers Point is the second oldest neighborhood in New Orleans and continues to prosper and grow while maintaining the small town ambience that it is so well known for. With so many things happening in Algiers, it is important to stay informed about the picture of health in the neighborhood. Healthy NOLA is a community tool that assists residents in understanding the various factors that impact the health of their neighborhood and provides guides and resources to address neighborhood disparities. Healthy NOLA provides a variety of data down to the neighborhood level to allow residents to have a snapshot of the health of their neighborhood, in this case, Algiers Point. Data is broken down into five domains: Social, Health, Education, Economy, Environment and Transportation. There are many social and economic determinants that affect the health of a neighborhood, and in order to improve health, those determinants must be also addressed. Education, safety, poverty, death rate, and income rates, like the measures represented below, are also good indicators of the workforce of a neighborhood. The table below provides a look at some valuable data related to Algiers. Represented are the indicators, the rate of that particular indicator in Algiers, and a gauge displaying how Algiers compares to other New Orleans neighborhoods. Overall, Algiers compares better than the combined average for the other New Orleans neighborhoods. But this does not mean that there is no room for improvement, the social and economic determinants of health in Algiers and New Orleans can always be improved.

For more resources, information and data, please visit www.healthynola.org. To see what work is happening in your community, visit www.lphi.org

Health

Algiers

579 total deaths Crude Death Rate per100,000 (total number of deaths from all causes per 100,000 population) annually

Education People 25+ with a high school degree or higher

Public Safety All propety crime rate*

Economy Per capita income (total income of the region divided by the population)

Algiers 89.80%

Algiers 33.40 all property crimes per 1,000

Algiers $45,144.00

People living below poverty level 8.50%

An Artists Refuge in Algiers By: Cammie Hill-Prewitt, Program Coordinator, A Studio in the Woods

Orleans Parish 774 total deaths per100,000 annually

Orleans Parish 83.70%

Orleans Parish 44.20 all property crimes per 1,000

Orleans Parish $20,350.50

22.50%

Archon Information Systems’ CivicSource® platform is a leading provider of: • delinquent tax collection, • online property tax auctions • and tax collection software

Hayeur’s “Underworlds”

ocated in a unique wooded setting in lower coast Algiers, A Studio in the Woods, a program of Tulane University since 2005, has an established record of pairing land preservation with intimate artist residencies and connecting artists to the local community through creative discourse centered on environmental challenges. Using themes to keep the program current and relevant, A Studio in the Woods has hosted the residency series “Ebb & Flow: Dialogues Between Art and Water” since 2011. It is based on the premise that Southern Louisiana is a microcosm of the global environment, manifesting both the challenges and possibilities inherent in human interaction with urban and natural ecosystems. Mark Davis, director of the Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law & Policy, was instrumental in crafting the Ebb & Flow call to artists, explaining, “The water we experience is not just hydrogen and oxygen but is the intersection of water as a physical, economic, legal, spiritual, cultural and artistic thing.” The call is open to artists of all disciplines who have demonstrated an established dialogue with environmental issues and a commitment to seeking and plumbing new depths. This past year, four residencies featured artists from various genres. New Orleans musician Sarah Quintana composed and recorded a dozen new songs and transformed the artist studio into a public mixed media sound installation with a number of professional and homemade instruments for a collaborative performance.

Visual artist Andy Behrle, from Washington, explored issues of erosion and accretion with a living installation in the form of a mausoleum covered with mud and the seeds of native plants that will be on view through December 2013 on the grounds of Longue Vue House and Gardens. Mary O’Brien and Daniel McCormick, visual artists from California, worked with local grassroots environmentalists to create a reusable cage to protect cypress seedlings from nutria and placed dozens of them on vulnerable areas of the Louisiana Coast as a remedial art installation. Most recently, Canadian photographer Isabelle Hayeur used special equipment to shoot over/underwater photography in polluted waterways, creating evocative imagery from the unusual perspective of the waterline that were then exhibited on four billboards on major thoroughfares across New Orleans. For the 2013-2014 season, A Studio in the Woods will offer five, fiveweek residencies to competitively selected artists from all disciplines. Artists are asked to describe in detail how the region will affect their work, to propose a public component to their residency and to suggest ways they will engage with the local community. This year the organization decided to dedicate the fall residencies to local artists. Anyone living in Greater New Orleans and the surrounding region is encouraged to apply. Artists awarded Ebb & Flow Residencies are selected, in part, on the basis of the depth of their proposals’ engagement with the community. A goal of A Studio in the Woods is to facilitate at least two or three public components during each residency. This allows the artist to connect with the public in a new way and is also invaluable for local audiences to interact with artists and ideas from outside their own community. Artists are provided with full room and board, artist and supply stipends, a private studio space with an ample porch overlooking the woods and precious protected work time in a peaceful, natural environment.

Annually, A Studio in the Woods invites the public to visit during FORESTival, which will be held May 11 this year. Tours of the woods, food, entertainment and kids’ activities are all part of the day. Visit www.astudiointhewoods.org for more information.

Call to Action: MENTORFEST

We provide all levels of governmental agencies with comprehensive tax and treasury management solutions at no cost to the department.

By: Sara Woodard, Executive Director, Start the Adventure in Reading

If you have questions about any of our services please contact us at 504-267-0065 or info@archoninfosys.com

Saturday, May 11, 2013, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Lawrence Square Park, Napoleon Ave. and Magazine St, Sign up today to mentor or tutor a child

We are a proud supporter of Neighborhoods Partnership Network and the Trumpet.

onsider this: every 26 seconds, a student drops out of school. Dropping out makes it harder for young people to get jobs and succeed in life, and easier for them to get into trouble and become unemployable with a criminal record early in life. Our economy loses hundreds of billions of dollars in productivity, and our communities and children lose their futures. Research shows just one caring adult in the life of a child can make all the difference. continued on page 14

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

continued from page 13 Become a part of the solution, come to MENTORFEST on Saturday, May 11. Sponsored by the New Orleans Kids Partnership (NOKP), it’s free and open to the public with crawfish, beer, sodas, door prizes and celebrity guests. Entertainment includes 610 Stompers, Hot 8 Brass Band, TBC Brass Band and Roots of Music, courtesy of The New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation. Representatives from NOKP organizations will be on hand to share information and sign up mentors and tutors: CASA New Orleans, Each One Save One, Mentoring Connection, New Orleans Outreach, Roots of Music, Start the Adventure in Reading, Urban League College Track, and Volunteers of America. Mentoring activities include academic tutoring, college preparation assistance, building job skills, leadership development and more. You don’t need prior experience—just be a caring adult who wants to make a difference in the life of a child. New Orleans has been designated a “Grad Nation Community”

by America’s Promise Alliance, the largest educational partnership in the country, founded by General and Mrs. Colin Powell in 1997. Grad Nation is a 10-year campaign to end the dropout crisis and prepare young people for college and the 21st century workforce. NOKP, the local affiliate of America’s Promise Alliance, is a voluntary collaboration among those programs that serve, support, engage and empower children and youth in the Greater New Orleans area. Working together, more than 40 NOKP partnering organizations develop, share, coordinate and leverage resources so that all children and youth reach their optimal potential. More than 100 people signed up to become mentors and tutors at MENTORFEST 2012, and NOKP is looking to double that number for next school year. MENTORFEST is your chance to have a great time and find out about local community programs looking to recruit positive role models to work with area children and youth.

La Rive Droit, The Right Bank By: Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy

Go to www.nokp.org/mentortutor to choose the volunteer mentoring or tutoring program that’s right for you. For more information, contact Mat Schwarzman at 504.655.0424

Building a Stronger Community through Workplace Partnerships By: Theodore Nathan and Amanda Buberger, Tulane’s Center for Public Service

ulane’s Center for Public Service (CPS) formally partners with over 400 diverse local organizations, “CPS Partners,” to support semester-long undergraduate service learning and internship collaborations. These working relationships enhance student learning, advance public service outcomes and provide professional development opportunities to agency staff. Roughly 125 local agencies orient Tulane students to the local community and to the workplace each semester. Along with Tulane faculty, CPS partners co-educate our students and help prepare them for future careers. As a result, an increasing number of Tulane students are staying in New Orleans after graduation. In support of this effort, CPS offers a variety of programs to community partner staff members designed to improve service learning outcomes, build organizational capacity, extend outreach and maximize impact. Most programs are free of charge to organizations that have officially partnered with the Center.

CPS Nonprofit Toolkit Workshops

were developed at our partners’ request, to fill a gap for local professionals who want to learn more about nonprofit management. Hosted every six weeks during the academic year, each workshop includes informative presentations by experts and group dialogue around nonprofit themes. Past topics have included: Board Development and Management, Fundraising, Website Development & Social Media, Measuring Impact and Event Planning

CPS Co-Educator Workshops engage active community

partners, faculty, and students in learning about best practices in public service partnerships. Veteran practitioners share their expertise, dialogue

and workshop ideas during roundtable discussions and networking. Past topics include: How to Manage Interns, Orientating Students to your Organization and Concluding a Semester of Service

CPS Nonprofit Strategy Institute (NSI) provides a select

cohort of top nonprofit leaders with an integrated approach to “big picture” ideas affecting the direction, performance and sustainability of their organizations. NSI is designed as an eight-session sequence of topics relevant to the strategic leadership of today’s nonprofit organizations. Sessions include a presentation on each topic, hands-on activities and discussions focusing on examples from participants’ own organizations.

Partnership Gatherings bring together faculty, partners and students to build relationships and show appreciation for each other’s contributions. Our 2012-2013 gathering will take place at Café Reconcile on Monday, May 13 from 3:30-6 p.m. Interested partners are asked to RSVP to ccp@tulane.edu Current programming for CPS Partners promotes collaboration and bolsters the nonprofit sector here in New Orleans. Recently, CPS completed a ten-year strategic plan that strives to, along with our Partners, innovatively and intentionally address social challenges. We welcome our Partners to join us in assessing and building upon our combined strengths, and focusing our efforts on our community’s needs for greater impacts in years to come.

For more information visit http://cps.tulane.edu/ or contact Theodore Nathan at tnathan@tulane.edu and Amanda Buberger at abuberg@tulane.edu THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

ome say Old Algiers is tucked in the curve of the Mississippi River directly across from Old New Orleans, or Le Vieux Carré, the French Quarters, or Downtown. Actually, Algiers Point, named for Algiers Bend, is almost a right angle turn on the Mississippi. From its 1719 land grant to Bienville (Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne de), Old Algiers remains a crucial support to New Orleans. Touted as the second oldest part of the Crescent City, built on high ground, Algiers welcomed many cultures from the French then Spanish landowners and their Slave labor to British, Irish, German, and Italians. Algiers is laced with an amalgam of lovely architecture, musical roots, a historical military presence, and early residents who fueled the many shipyards, iron foundries, lumberyards, and railroad yards. Creoles and French settlers call Algiers La Rive Droit De Fleuve, the “Right Bank of the River.” Today, folks say Algiers is on “The West Bank,” or “The Best Bank,” though it is clearly on the East side of New Orleans. Take a ferry ride at sunset. The Algiers view of the Crescent City is picture post card all the way. Originally, before Bienville’s land grant, Algiers was the wet lands and home to many Native peoples, groups such as the Alabama, Biloxi, Chawasha, and Washa peoples, linguistically said to be cousins to the Muskeogean family of Choctaw dialects. Here, in these swamp and low lands, river lands, the Natives moved sometimes because of ants or snakes, and there are almost 30 varieties of snakes here, but less than a dozen that are poisonous. The Natives made their livelihoods seasonally following crawfish, turtles, oysters, crabs, gar, buffalo fish, alligator, rabbit, muskrat, picking wild blackberries, pecans, walnuts, strawberries, onions, wild honey and using palmetto, river clay, and Spanish moss for their homes. The Natives were rich in beans, “little corn,” sunflower, and tobacco they planted. Some sold land to Europeans, and many remained “Tchopitoulas” or people living by the river. These were peaceful peoples helping early settlers, taking in run-a-way slaves, living harmoniously in their environment. Their numbers dwindled, and Native ways gave to western expansion. Eventually, there were too few living by their Chestnut Moon (February to March); Walnut Moon (March to April); Deer Moon (April to May); Strawberry Moon (May to June), living by weather changes, the ripening of fruit, the fullness of waterfowl. Algiers was also part of the “King’s Plantation,” which stretched from Plaquemines to Donaldsonville then to Natchez, Mississippi. There are tales about the origin of its name. Because of shipping, folks called it Algiers, as Jean Lafitte noted the area for its unsavory characters and pirates. Some say many slaves from King’s Plantation were from Algeria in Northern Africa, and the name stuck. Others saw a similar geographic closeness of the lake to New Orleans to The Point, versus the Mediterranean and France to Algeria. Algiers’ proximity to New Orleans made it invaluable in its development of steamboats, boat building, and dry dock industry. It had shipyards

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

Photo: Heidi Hickman

when New Orleans was still a new city, as early as 1819, at the head of Séquin Street, so named for André Séquin, a maritime man who founded the first shipyard. Later, Algiers became a railroad center with the Opelousas Railroad, which became Morgan’s Louisiana & Texas R.R., and later the Southern Pacific. The rail and shipping industry moved south. Connection to New Orleans by ferryboat was essential prior to the building of the massive Mississippi River bridges. Today, folks ferry across the Mississippi to work or take in the sites. One of my fondest city travels with my Mother and siblings was riding across the river by ferry on a hot Friday night, just to see the city from the river and cool off. In Old Algiers, from the descendants of imported Slave labor came cultural practices such as Social & Pleasure Clubs, their Second Line street parades for burials, parades supporting musicians, and Hoodoo. Social and Pleasure Clubs are benevolent organizations whose origins are clearly from West Africa. Many know now that by 1718, only in New Orleans, (Beauregard Square) Congo Square, slaves were permitted to congregate, dance and sell their wares publicly on Sundays. In Algiers, because John McDonogh freed his slaves mid 19th century, slaves had freedoms long before the Emancipation Proclamation. Social and Pleasure Clubs are direct descendants of secret “societies” common in West Africa. Such secret societies exist in the Guinea Coast area, the Congo Basin, among the Poro and Sande of Sierra Leone and Liberia, the Egungun and Oro of Nigeria, and the Leopard Societies of the Congo People. This tradition evolved into benevolent societies, which grew to foster similar moral interests, financial help through group effort, and an important social outlet during segregated times. Benevolent societies enable one of minimal means to bury a loved one, gain scholarships for kids and survive in style and grace. Cemeteries in Old Algiers contain the names of hundreds of Social and Pleasure Clubs tombs. Also, local schools trained musicians. One Algiers son known today as Clarence “Frogman” Henry, graduated from L.B. Landry High School in 1953. Dedicated in 1938 as a high school for Colored kids of Algiers, the school was named for Lord Beaconsfield Landry (1878-1938), a physician who practiced medicine in Algiers for nearly 30 years. While attending Fisk University, Landry was one of the famous Fisk Jubilee Singers and, in Algiers, organized and directed the Osceola Five, a vocal group specializing in educational and religious musical programs. From Algiers, there are other musicians famous in their day: George Lewis, “Kid” Thomas, Peter Bocage, the Matthews Brothers, Freddie Kolhman. Underneath the obvious beauty of Algiers Point, its history is ongoing. Surviving the Great Fire of 1895 and flourishing, Old Algiers is strategically placed on the Mississippi River, important throughout history for its peoples, the region, proximity to New Orleans, at the bend in the river, the site of the rising sun.

NEIGH SPOTBORHOOD LIGHT ol

d alg iers

NEIGH SPOTBORHOOD LIGHT ol

d alg iers

Photos: Heidi Hickman

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

History of Old Algiers The Power of a Strong Creating Your Own PR

By: Nora McGunnigle, Local History Editor, NPN Photo: Heidi Hickman

ld Algiers is comprised of the Algiers Point and McDonogh (now known as Riverview) neighborhoods. It is the second-oldest settlement in New Orleans, only the French Quarter was settled before Old Algiers was in 1719. Slaves arriving from Africa for almost 150 years were held in Old Algiers before being sold into a lifetime of slavery. Some scholars of the history of jazz believe the origins of that music began in the melodic “call and response” between the abused and frightened people far from home to find some comfort in horrifying circumstances. At the turn of the 19th century, Algiers Point was mainly occupied by the Duverje plantation. However, eventually its proximity to the East Bank of New Orleans drew large settlement numbers after the Algiers ferry was established in 1827. As the dry dock industry, iron foundries, railroads, shipyards, and lumberyards grew in the area, and the East Bank became more and more popular, New Orleanians started settling in areas of Algiers away from the Point. In the 1800s, John McDonogh (also well known as the benefactor of 35 public schools throughout Orleans Parish) settled into what is now the McDonogh neighborhood. He called it “McDonoghville” (and it is now known as “Riverview”) with the goal of creating a model society and preparing the slaves he held to be freed and return to Liberia. After

NEIGH

BORH McDonoghville was sold to multiple SPOT OD LIGHO smaller landholders in the late 19th and T early 20th century, the area was very attractive to Irish, Italian, and German immigrants who sought to make a home on the less crowded West Bank. McDonogh also faces across the river to the East Bank, making it desirable and convenient to the newly arriving immigrants. Algiers was the first major area of the parish to reopen to residents after Katrina, allowing people back on September 26, 2005. According to the GNO Community Data Center analysis of Valassis Residential According to the GNO and Business Database, all of the Community Data neighborhoods in Old Algiers Center analysis of have made a significant residential comeback, with a return rate of Valassis Residential 108 percent in Algiers Point, and and Business McDonogh at 101 percent as of June Database, all of the 2010. neighborhoods in Old Many non-profit neighborhoodAlgiers have made a oriented organizations were significant residential formed to promote the community comeback. and business interests of the Old Algiers area like the Old Algiers Main Street Corporation, Algiers Redevelopment Foundation, Algiers Point Historic District, and the Algiers Economic Development Foundation. The area’s passionate community support and robust post-Katrina residential population numbers speaks to the strong return of this area just over the Mississippi.

Old A lgier s

Professional Portfolio By: Nayita Wilson, NVisions Communications & Consulting

henever we get the opportunity to facilitate a branding or PR training for organizations or individuals, we emphasize the importance of “simple things,” such as always having business cards handy. The reason being, it amazes us when individuals attend networking opportunities or pursue business opportunities empty handed. So that’s when we share our story. NVisions Communications & Consulting received its very first PR client as a result of a business card exchange that happened one year prior to ever securing the contract. When we first met our client, a prospect at the time, the executive director was transitioning into the role. The organization had many needs, but our services, while attractive, simply weren’t priority at that moment. Ultimately, we left a business card behind and received the call to provide services one year later—when the time was right. Whether you’re building a platform for your next move, bidding out a contract or seeking employment, the information you leave with prospects on the front end could very well be the key that unlocks what you’ve been seeking all along.

Preparing Your Arsenal for the Right Timing Revive the Resume

A solid resume means as much to the employment seeker as it does to the business owner and key team members pursuing a major project.

Update your resume. Ensure relevant experience is prominent. Include figures (i.e. the number of employees managed or amount of bids previously secured).

Position Your Bio

Who are you? A bio is a powerful way to communicate your expertise and why you’re a credible source in your sphere of influence. Bios also provide great copy for websites and professional networking sites such as LinkedIn. We recommend having short and long versions readily available for opportunities you’re actively seeking and opportunities that knock on your door.

Invest in Business Cards

Business cards reflect brand and image, but they also provide reference points. Include pertinent contact information and key words that associate you with your line of work. Keep it simple. And remember —especially if you’re an introvert— nicely designed business cards make excellent conversation pieces. Most important, always keep extra cards on hand (i.e. in your car or within your cellphone case) and in stock. Nayita Wilson is Founder and CEO of NVisions Communications & Consulting— a vision driven public relations firm based in the Greater New Orleans region. Stay connected: @NVisionsPR, facebook.com/NVisionsCommunications or nayita@ nvisionscommunications.com

Technical Training to Spur Health Innovation

By: James P. McNamara, President and CEO, BioDistrict New Orleans

t no time in history has workforce development been more important for sustained economic growth than today. Education and skills are the keys to individual prosperity and a better quality of life for New Orleans as a whole. The BioDistrict’s mission is to position New Orleans as a hub for health innovation and to attract new investment. The District has both a place-and people-based economic development mission that serves as a bridge between the community and large-scale projects, including the Veterans Administration Hospital, the University Medical Center and the Louisiana Cancer Research Center. The District’s first initiative is to create new partnerships that provide the technical training for the workforce that is required by employer driven demand. We believe that workforce training is valuable for the community, existing employers, and new companies that are considering New Orleans. Technical education and training prepares highly skilled individuals for better careers, provides employers with skilled workers and supplies the industry with a steady pipeline of talent for a higher quality of life for New Orleanians. The BioDistrict Workforce Development Team prepares workers for careers in high-priority fields, including health IT, laboratory research, surgical suites and health sciences. Education and training in these critical industries will help ensure a sustained growth in the New Orleans

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

economy long into the future. Successful workforce development programs improve the employability and earning potential of learners and increases profitability for employers. The Workforce Development Team engages in partnerships to develop an integrated education and workforce training system that unifies efforts, produces highly skilled workers, leverages resources to aligned priority needs and maximizes benefits by being: • Relevant, serving as the link between education, the workforce and needs vital to local employers; • Impactful, providing proper scale and scope, including soft skills and transition funding; • Accessible, removing the barriers to employment for the underserved, including holding training sessions in the community and on Saturdays so that a variety of audiences can attend; • Innovative, monitoring feedback loops through research and connecting new innovation to business growth and new training initiatives. The BioDistrict’s workforce development process supports those with undergraduate certificates, diplomas or associates degree training providers to provide high-quality, cost effective and career-relevant solutions.

The WTCNO International Trade Certifiate

A Workforce Development Program

By: Jessica L. Steverson, Marketing Director, World Trade Center of New Orleans

The World Trade Center of New Orleans will offer their International Trade Certificate (ITC) program May 16 – June 27.

percent of the world’s purchasing power and 95 percent of consumers he training program, which is the first and only program of its are located outside the United States. Businesses that export to global kind offered in Louisiana, is designed for small and medium-sized markets typically have faster sales growth, create more jobs, businesses that are interested in marketing and their employees earn more than their non-exporting their products globally. The intensive export The state of counterparts. Additionally, companies that export to foreign education program will feature six half-day Louisiana helps markets are nearly 8.5 percent less likely to go out of modules: The Export Process, International Market business than non-exporting businesses. Research, International Market Strategies, International to encourage The state of Louisiana helps to encourage businesses Methods of Payment and Export Financing Programs, businesses to to participate in the ITC program by offering financial Logistics, Transportation and Documentation, Legal Aspects participate in the incentives. Qualifying small businesses can have their of International Trade and Global Online Marketing. participation fee reimbursed through the State Trade Export Each of the six sessions will feature industry and ITC program by (STEP) funded by the Office of International government experts who will share their knowledge offering financial Program Trade of SBA and administered by the Louisiana Economic and guide participants through the different aspects incentives. Development (LED). of international business and exporting. Speakers The ITC program is approved for 22.5 hours of CLE include lawyers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, credit and also the program also serves as a preparation course for the international bankers, international marketing experts, representatives from NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) exam. the US Export Assistance Center, and the WTC. The ITC program works to develop and prepare a globally aware To register or learn more, please contact: Eliza workforce in the state of Louisiana. Those who attend will leave the course with the knowledge and ability to expand their businesses outside of the Brierre, Trade Programs Director 504. 619.9834 U.S. and into the vast untapped markets the global export and import or ebrierre@wtcno.org or visit our website at industries have to offer. www.wtcno.org While the United States is the world’s largest economy, more than 70

Tulane student Brooke Kania, along with her A’s and Aces internship supervisor Jack Duffy at the internship fair.

Tulane Center for Public Service Internships Helps Students Make an Impact in their Community By: Dr. Myriam Huet, Program Manager — Internships, Tulane’s Center for Public Service

ach semester, the Center for Public Service (CPS) at Tulane hosts its Internship Fair on the Uptown campus. On Wednesday, April 10, the event drew representatives from over 100 local organizations, all looking to recruit Tulane students as interns. The Public Service Internship Program allows juniors and seniors across academic fields to fulfill the second tier of the university’s public service graduation requirement and earn academic credit by interning with a community partner. Student interns are required to work an average of 60 to 70 hours a semester for their internship. Among attendees this semester was the organization A’s & Aces, a New Orleans-based non-profit with a mission to help children succeed in life by focusing on improving literacy, teaching positive behavior and citizenship, and promoting healthy living. Founded in 2008, A’s & Aces provides tennis, life skills, and literacy instruction to public school children. The organization’s programs are aimed at combatting the perils of widespread obesity, illiteracy, and violence by introducing children to the discipline and physical fitness required to play tennis. In 2012-2013, A’s & Aces served almost 1,000 children through their in-school and after-school programs and summer camps. A junior in International Development, Brooke Kania interns with A’s and Aces. As a Development Intern, she’s responsible for assisting fundraising events and campaign research, donor and volunteer outreach via social media and direct mailing, as well as program logistics and scheduling.

Advertise In

The 20

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

rumpet

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

Her intern role allows her to apply classroom knowledge, build professional credentials, and engage in the broader New Orleans community. Brooke sees this experience as uniquely relevant to her major and what she has been studying at Tulane for the past three years. “It is extremely interesting to witness firsthand how a non-profit organization is run. In International Development, we always learn about different types of aid and how the most effective programs are those that provide people with the tools they need so that they can help themselves. A’s and Aces is a great real-world example of this,” Brooke explained. Like Brooke, an additional 190 Tulane students are currently interning with community-based organizations throughout the New Orleans area. Through a partnership with CPS, these organizations design their own internship positions based on their needs and may take on several interns each semester. The impact of this collaboration between Tulane and the community is invaluable and is reflected in the growing numbers of organizations that become partners and attend the Public Service Internship Fair each semester.

For more information, please visit http://tulane. edu/cps/ or contact Dr. Myriam Huet at mhuet@ tulane.edu or 504.862.3357.

As an advertising partner, you can choose either a 1/4 page, 1/2 page, 3/4 page or a full page ad space.

Email melissa@npnnola.com 21

Getting on Track with TRAC

Services for People with Disabilities

Homeless Advocacy Through a “Hand Up” By: John Keenan sold 872,562 copies of “Real Change” to the Seattle community. Similarly, vendors of Nashville’s “Contributor” sold over 1.3 million papers last year and collectively earned $2.3 million in income. Because of these successes, a third of “Contributor’s” vendors are able to afford permanent housing after starting work at the paper. Charron both publishes “The Exchange” and trains its paper vendors because she believes that a New Orleans’ street paper could have a similar impact on our homeless population. “This city has all the right ingredients for a very successful street paper,” Charron said. “But we need the support of the community, all of it.” As a nonprofit, New Orleans Street Exchange depends on sponsorships and donations from community members to print the paper and train its vendors. By successfully establishing and promoting its own local street paper, New Orleans can join most other major cities in the U.S. and around the world in the public discourse that will change the way we view poverty. Through offering a “hand up, not handout” approach, street papers work to challenge stereotypes. They demonstrate – both to the vendor and to the rest of us – that the homeless can be hardworking people trying to find a way back into housing, employment and “mainstream” society. Tommy is an example of that.

By: Kenneth R. Zangla, Director, UNO-Training, Resource and Assistive Technology Center (TRAC)

Training, Resource and Assistive-technology Center (TRAC) staff

he University of New Orleans, Training, Resource and Assistivetechnology Center (TRAC) has served individuals with disabilities in the Greater New Orleans area and statewide for over 25 years. TRAC’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through services aimed at preparing people with disabilities to enter, re-enter, or remain in the workforce following the onset of a disability. TRAC offers one-on-one or small group computer training to allow individuals with disabilities to update job skills and learn how to use accommodative tools to more effectively and independently perform job tasks. Computers and assistive technology training opens the doors for educational and employment opportunities. TRAC offers training in keyboarding, basic operations of standard business software (like Microsoft Office), and assistive technology (like software that magnifies or reads aloud what is on the computer screen). In addition to computer skills, individuals have opportunities to enhance their interpersonal communication skills through a customer service training workshop. Courses are also available to learn Braille and review basic academic skills for business communication. “Taking a computer course at TRAC has given me the confidence to use the computer,” explained Joshmin Nolan, a blind musician, who had never used a computer before. Nolan plans to apply his new skills in the music industry, especially his new found knowledge on using email and internet access. Ann Dalton, a local artist shared, “The UNO TRAC Program has given me the new skills to continue my career as an artist. The Program has let me realize that I can continue creating and producing my art pieces. With the new computer skills I am learning and with the business ExcEL training [Exceptional Entrepreneurs of Louisiana self-employment training program] I will be a much better business woman than I ever was before I had low vision.” TRAC serves as a resource center for teachers, counselors, families, and employers through an assistive technology resource lab, job site services, and disability awareness training. TRAC’s hands-on resource lab gives people an opportunity to view assistive technology products and identify what products meet an individual’s vocational, educational, and daily living needs. Individuals who have difficulty seeing what is being displayed on their computer screen may benefit from software that magnifies the images on

screen or reads the text aloud through computerized speech. Individuals who have difficulty using the standard keyboard or mouse because of arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or weakness/paralysis secondary to an injury or stroke may benefit from different kinds of keyboards or software that allows them to speak what they want to type. The staff works with employers and individuals with disabilities to determine solutions for accommodations on the job. A formal assistive technology assessment can be conducted on-site at TRAC or at the job site to evaluate an individual’s ability to use an array of low- tech to high-tech devices to accommodate his/her disability at work, home or school. Another way TRAC serves as a resource to the community--especially to employers--is through disability awareness training. TRAC provides disability awareness training to many local businesses and cultural facilities. Business Managers as well as frontline receptionists can benefit from learning how to communicate more comfortably and effectively with people with disabilities-whether they be customers or co-workers. For example, workshop participants may learn how to act as a sighted guide for someone who is blind or they can experience visual disabilities by wearing special goggles that simulate various visual impairments. TRAC has provided disability awareness training for several businesses including Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans Convention Center, Airport Security, Civil District Court, various hotels, and the Louisiana Restaurant Association. Many persons with disabilities turn to self-employment in their entry into the workforce. Home-based businesses can reduce barriers like transportation and communication. Since 1998, TRAC has provided selfemployment training to individuals with disabilities through the Exceptional Entrepreneurs of Louisiana (ExcEL) program. This program, funded through a contract with Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, operates in collaboration with professors in the UNO College of Business. Through ExcEL, individuals with disabilities prepare to write a business plan and start their own businesses. Program participants have started businesses in lawn care, retail sales, photography studios, restaurants, and many others. Murphy Tyler, owner of Lazarus Truck Driving School of Opelousas explained, “Because of the help of ExcEL and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services [LRS], I am able to participate in the economic development of the state by providing much needed truck drivers for the businesses requiring them. TRAC/ExcEL gave me the training I needed to write a business plan, file for the license needed from the Board of Regents, and get my doors open.” Karen Seifert, owner of Administrative Resources and Solutions, LLC of Kenner added, “I am very thankful that LRS referred me to the TRAC program. ExcEL helped me write a business plan where I learned about the many aspects of running a business. The things I learned have continued to help me succeed in my business because they helped change my mindset about what it means to be a business owner.” TRAC is housed on the UNO campus at the Oliver St. Pe’ Center, named after its founding director who died in 1995. St. Pe’ experienced progressively declining vision and discovered how the early beginnings of assistive technology could assist him in maintaining his employment as an administrator and instructor. It was his entrepreneurial vision that became a reality in TRAC’s programs and services and the building that houses its operations.

If you or anyone you know could benefit from TRAC’s programs or services, please visit trac.uno.edu or call 504.280.5700 for additional information. THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

Tommy P. distributes The Exchange at Family Dollar located on the intersection of Canal and Broad Streets. Tommy enjoys interaction with his customers. “There are a lot of nice people in this town,” he said.

To learn more about New Orleans Street Exchange, or get involved with the street paper, please visit nolastreets.org

t’s an all too common sight in New Orleans: a disheveled guy at a busy intersection waving a cardboard sign that declares him homeless while he solicits cars for spare coins. Be on the lookout for a change. At least some of those guys are now waving a sheaf of newspapers at your windshield, in the hopes that you, or passing pedestrians, will buy one. Tommy P. is one of those guys. Like many homeless people in New Orleans, Tommy has had a hard time finding work. A drywall mechanic by trade, he ended up at the New Orleans Mission after a long period of unemployment. “I got behind on child support,” Tommy said. “I lost everything.” To get back on his feet, Tommy started vending “The Exchange” in February. “The Exchange” is a quarterly street paper that gives New Orleans’ homeless population the opportunity to earn a buck – not just ask for one. The paper is the vision of Betsy Charron, co-founder of New Orleans Street Exchange, an umbrella nonprofit organization that aims to improve the lives of people without a regular roof over their heads. I’m volunteering with Charron to try and effect meaningful change in the lives of the estimated 5,000 men, women and children who now live on the streets of New Orleans. The street paper model has been successfully implemented internationally as a way to give society’s most marginalized citizens a way to reinforce their identity, add meaning to their daily experiences and reintroduce them to the cash economy. Newspapers like “The Exchange” give citizens without access to formal power structures a way to change their lives, but they also create a forum for homeless advocates to turn frustration into true social change. Tommy, like other “The Exchange” vendors, buys his papers for 25 cents and sells them for a dollar, a difference that he keeps plus any unsolicited tips. In this sense, he has become a micro-entrepreneur. “Selling the paper has shown me the value of money,” Tommy said. “It has changed my situation. It got me out into the public.” The success of the street paper model can be seen in Seattle’s “Real Change,” which employed 814 homeless vendors in 2012. These vendors

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

NOLA Wise Benefits Local Contractors By: Monica Rowand, Community Outreach Coordinator, NOLA Wise

n addition to improving a home’s comfort— while saving the homeowner money— Global Green’s NOLA Wise program is dedicated to helping its local contractors flourish and grow both as individuals and as businesses. At the beginning of the program, NOLA Wise provides training for local contractors to get their Building Performance Institute (BPI) certifications, an energy efficiency retrofit certification that is the national green building standard. NOLA Wise provides quality assurance and periodic trainings that help increase contractors’ skill sets and improve the quality of their work. In addition to creating a quality and reliable contractor pool, NOLA Wise participates in other programs that help to develop the New Orleans workforce. BPI training was provided to a total of 41 individuals including youth apprentices, energy auditors, and NOLA Wise employees, partners,

and contractors. The training provided local building professionals with a skill set and knowledge base they could use in current positions and in the future. NOLA Wise also placed BPI-trained apprentices with NOLA Wise contractors, allowing the newly trained apprentices to put their knowledge to use while learning how the construction and retrofitting industries actually work. One of these apprentices now holds a full time job with Colmex Construction, the contractor he was originally placed with. An additional workforce development grant has allowed NOLA Wise to encourage their contractors to hire local military veterans. NOLA Wise offers a supplemental wage stipend incentive to help cover the costs of new employee orientations and trainings. In fact, they are still looking for Veterans qualified for weatherization work. If you or someone you know would like more information, please contact NOLA Wise at 504.523.WISE (9473). Since the program started in Fall 2011, NOLA Wise contractors have earned over $1 million in revenues from home energy efficiency retrofits alone, a statistic that will increase significantly with the launch of commercial and multi-family projects. In one case, a contractor’s annual earnings have even increased by 50 percent. Although best known for the support and peace of mind it provides for homeowners installing energy retrofit measures, NOLA Wise clearly has an impact on the New Orleans workforce. NOLA Wise developed a pool of local contractors whose work can be trusted and verified and whose businesses have grown accordingly. Contact NOLA Wise for more information, or to work with one of these star contractors. With a NOLA Wise contractor, you can increase the efficiency of your home by up to 30 percent, lower your utility bill and make your home more comfortable during the hot and humid summer months.

NOLA TimeBank Moves into Dyverse City Marketplace By: Gretchen Zalkind, NOLA TimeBank

he NOLA TimeBank grew to 280 members after its first year and a half. With that kind of growth, NOLA TimeBank really needed a public office space. Dyverse City Marketplace offers low cost retail and studio space in their converted warehouse space at 3929 Fourth Street (near Broad St). With 10,000 square feet, housing 11 retail shops and 14 artists, Dyverse City focuses on inner-city revitalization, development, and empowerment for budding artists and entrepreneurs in New Orleans. Both NOLA TimeBank and Dyverse City share the common goal of working to empower individuals and create sustainable communities. Seeing the advantage of joining forces, Dyverse City Marketplace owners Nicole and Brent Balthazar donated office space to the NOLA TimeBank. NOLA TimeBank is an association that welcomes all community members to share their talents and time in a pay-it-forward exchange pool. Provide a ride to the airport and earn an hour of Time Credit. Use your hour of Time Credit to have your yard mowed. When using the NOLA TimeBank it’s time that you save and time that you spend. Several of the shop owners at Dyverse City already joined the NOLA TimeBank and appreciate the way the NOLA TimeBank helps support small businesses. In response to requests, NOLA TimeBank will present a workshop on how to open an on-line retail shop at Etsy.com on Thursday May, 30 from 1 – 3 p.m. The workshop is free and open to all. In addition to the NOLA TimeBank office, the Balthazar’s created a conference room at Dyverse City available for other NOLA TimeBank classes or workshops. Is there a class you would like to take or teach?

Membership in the NOLA TimeBank can be requested on-line at www. nolatimebank.org, but better yet come in person to the NOLA TimeBank’s new office in Dyverse City Marketplace. After joining the TimeBank, members post requests for any sort of service or browse the service offerings. Offers include:

• Zydeco dance lessons • furniture re-upholstering • yard work • gardening • cooking • hair cutting • organizing your home clutter • board games • computer coaching • transportation to the airport Hour for hour, everyone’s time has equal value. Yard work or computer work, it doesn’t matter – NOLA TimeBank rewards all kinds of work equally.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Post a request or stop by on Thursdays to Dyverse City (3929 Fourth St) where NOLA TimeBank has office hours from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

Under the instruction of IATSE 478 representatives, grip trainees learn to assemble a dolly track.

An aspiring electric, Brian Hollars of Jefferson Parish practices lighting techniques.

Cultivating the Local Film Industry By: Abigail Levner, NOVAC Membership & Program Coordinator

OVAC, New Orleans Video Access Center, is changing the way New Orleans thinks about workforce training. While the term normally conjures images of blue-collar workers learning to twist knobs on factory equipment and piece together products on the assembly line, NOVAC specializes in a different breed of training that hits closer to home: training for jobs in Louisiana’s rapidly growing film industry. As Hollywood South grows, the demand for well-trained local film workers is bigger than ever. NOVAC connects Louisiana residents to training opportunities that give them the skills needed to land job placements on feature film and television productions. By developing quality local film workers, we can ensure the continued growth of LA’s film industry and keep New Orleans – and Louisiana – a compelling location to produce films. In the last six months, NOVAC trained 70 Louisiana residents committed to pursuing jobs in the local film industry. In October 2012, we partnered with FilmNOLA, Second Line Stages, and Quixote Studios to offer P.A. Boot Camp, a two-day intensive Production Assistant workshop led by seasoned film workers from NBC, ABC, The Office, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more. NOVAC received almost 200 applications for the 30-seat class, which featured lectures on set etiquette, terminology, crew department responsibilities, resume preparation and hands-on exercises with walkie-talkies, filmmaking equipment, production paperwork and kit preparation. “For years NOVAC has and continues to offer Production Assistant Training and job placement in New Orleans because it is the entry point for many wishing to begin careers in the film industry,” said NOVAC Director of Programs, Ashley Charbonnet. “Growing the workforce from the ground up is one of the ways that that we will continue to cultivate a local film industry that is a sustainable part of our cultural economy.” Following P.A. Boot Camp, in February 2013, NOVAC went on to offer Ready Set Film: Intro to Grip & Electric, a two-day intensive workforce training for aspiring Grips and Electrics. Held at local special effects studio Spectrum FX (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Beautiful Creatures), 24 Orleans Parish and 16 Jefferson Parish residents received instruction from Key Grip and IATSE 478 Vice President Mike Smith (Ray, O Brother, Where Art Thou?), Gaffer Sean Finnegan (Contraband, Green Lantern), Daniel Rector of Acme Film Productions, and IATSE 478 Business Agent Bill McCord. Training included hands-on exercises in industry standard practices including dolly work, cable runs, setting flags, handling HMIs and generators, lighting design and more, on equipment donated by Cinelease. Participants also had the rare opportunity to operate a 50-foot Techno Crane courtesy of 4:4:4 Camera, who

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

led the demonstration. Completion of Ready Set Film also counted towards two of the “30-days-on-set” required for entry into the trade union, IATSE Local 478. “Ready Set Film was a great hands-on course with lots of practical and relevant exercises. I’m glad to be a new NOVAC member and I’m looking forward to getting some real world work experience,” said Thomas Redmann, a Jefferson Parish resident who received training in the electric department. Both P.A. Boot Camp and Ready Set Film were offered free of charge to accepted applicants. Upon completion, graduates received complementary NOVAC memberships, providing access to filmmaking, audio and editing equipment rentals, technical classes, educational panels, project sponsorship, job referrals, and networking events. NOVAC also works to track the progress and placement rates of its graduates and connect them to local employment opportunities. Film Industry Workforce trainees have landed gigs with productions like American Horror Story 3, Oldboy, America’s Got Talent, Homefront, American Idol, Oxygen and commercial clients like Cox Sports, Blue Runners, and Macy’s. “With additional incentives to hire locals, this training course [was] an excellent opportunity for those with the desire to become part of our area’s trained film workforce,” said Jefferson Parish President John Young. In 2012, NOVAC placed LA residents in 67 film industry jobs and connected 1,094 community members to educational programming and support services.

NOVAC is currently working with local film offices to provide additional workforce training this summer in Practical Effects, Props & Wardrobe, Grip & Electric, and Production Accounting. Orleans and Jefferson Parish residents can learn more about the application process by visiting novacvideo.org. ABOUT NOVAC: Celebrating its 41st anniversary this year, NOVAC is a 501 (c) 3 film & media-arts nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate a sustainable film community by providing access to resources, education and locally generated content. NOVAC’s programs are supported in part by a Community Arts Grant made possible by the City of New Orleans. NOVAC’s programs are also made possible by a Decentralized Arts grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Arts Council of New Orleans.

First Klass Gives Young Women a Competitive Edge By: Amanda Materre, First Klass Founder

ccording to the Pelican Post, there is a positive correlation between education, literacy rate, and employment. The more educated and literate a potential job applicant, the more likely they are employed. There is a general stigma in the New Orleans area and surrounding communities that prevents people from being successful. The NOLA youth have more negative forces than positive forces in their lives. In addition to the stigma, there is another factor that effects NOLA youth. They do not seek opportunities because they lack the inclination or initiative, it is because of a lack of resources and accessibility to resources. If we create a program capable of sustainability, productivity, accessibility, and creativity, then we can get the results that greatly impact the lives of NOLA youth. We need a program where sustainability is not short lived, that all youth have access to it and is centrally located. A program that produces a change that can be seen. It needs to be creative so that kids will always be engaged and there is never a dull moment. With First Klass, we have created that program. Our project was geared towards improving job readiness of young women in the New Orleans area and surrounding communities. First Klass was created to not only give young women the competitive edge and quick start they need in order to be successful in the workforce, but also make them feel as if they are invincible. It is a monthly workshop that features different topics within the workforce. Topics such as, but not limited to, communication skills, dress for success, money management, leadership skills, resume writing, mock interviews. The workshop also includes an orientation and graduation. Our target audience is young women ages 15-22 who want to increase their earning potential and are seeking personal advancement. As well as those who are unemployed.

Initially, First Klass was scheduled to launch January 16, 2013 and last until March 19, 2013. However, due to difficulties with outreach and issues with scheduling convenient times for participants, we only had one session that occurred April 6, 2013. During that session, we had two participants and they were not our initial target audience, but still benefited from the project nonetheless. The participants of the first First Klass session were two females ages 20 and 21. They are both students at Xavier University. One is employed and the other is not. These ladies have benefited from this program by acquiring more knowledge to prepare them for their future endeavors. Upon follow-up, they said they feel more confident and more certain of what they want to do. They said they are thankful for the First Klass session and that they would recommend others to partake in it. Throughout the process, we acquired partnerships with Wal-Mart, Dress for Success NOLA, Urban Strategies, Goodwill, and homeless shelters around the city. The ENACTUS chapter at Xavier University of Louisiana was awarded a grant through the Wal-Mart Women’s Economic Empowerment Grant. Dress for Success NOLA is in charge of dressing our participants for interviews free of charge. Urban Strategies provided us with gift cards for the participants and helped with outreach. Goodwill helped with outreach and as a soundboard ideas. Lastly the homeless shelters helped with outreach. The future plans for First Klass involve increasing our participation numbers. Secondly, we plan to expand the program to men as well. I feel that it is of great importance to teach both young men and women job readiness. Lastly, I hope to incorporate the program with others involved with youth development locally, state-wide, and nationally. When our participants succeed, we succeed. Feel free to add us on Facebook: Klass First

SweetCakes & Candy Emporium creates the most beautiful and delicious cakes, pies, cupcakes, & candy for your personal needs. We also offer the following services for local businesses, organizations & associations. • Business gift giving programs

By: Derwin Wilright, Jr., Youth Organizer, BreakOUT!

y name is Derwin Wilright, Jr. and I am a Youth Organizer with BreakOUT!, an organization working to fight discriminatory policing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning/queer (LGBTQ) youth in New Orleans. LGBTQ youth, and in particular Black transwomen, are at a high risk for incarceration due to systemic factors that push youth out of institutions like their home and schools. With nowhere to go, many youth resort to the streets, illegal substances and survival crimes just to get by. From the juvenile curfew in the French Quarter to the discriminatory policing that happens along Tulane Avenue, LGBTQ youth of color, especially Black transgender young women, are criminalized in our city. BreakOUT! works to end this “rail to jail” through empowering those most impacted to effect concrete policy reforms. Related to the school-toprison pipeline, where young people are pushed out of failing education systems and into prisons, the rail to jail is a concept used to refer to the over-representation of Black and Brown people within the criminal or juvenile justice system. Fortunately, through a workforce development program, BreakOUT! hires young people from our membership base who are directly impacted by the criminal justice system, and connects them, as well as other members, to resources. They are able to hone their organizing skills and further develop their leadership potential. We understand in order to effect real change in our communities, those most negatively impacted by these harmful policies and corrupt systems need to be the ones at the forefront of making change. That is why it is crucial for non-profit organizations to prioritize hiring LGBTQ young people of color and formerly-incarcerated people. Further, skills that young people learn from the streets in order to survive make them natural community organizers and are transferable to other jobs, like networking, relationship-building, marketing, resource-pooling, budgeting, and outreach. There is an incredible amount of genius inherent in our City’s young people being ignored. Working at BreakOUT! offers me the

(holidays, birthdays, client recognition, & customer development days)

• Very interactive & engaging dessert cooking classes (which serve as great team building activities)

• Custom orders

(we can create cakes that match your organizations events & themes)

Give us a call at 504-383-4059 or www.sweetcakesandcandy.com to place an order &/or to book a date.

Your Personal Baker...For All Your Baking Needs THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

chance to witness the incredible amount of drive and tenacity our members, some as young as 14, have that makes them able to stand up against a police department and criminal justice system brutalizing and terrorizing us. I know from the countless times someone asks, “What do you do?” that in New Orleans working for a nonprofit that addresses and works to reform NOPD policies and practices is a bit out of the ordinary for youth in our city. While waiting on a bus or walking down the block it is not uncommon to hear many stories about the NOPD. When one of my coworkers talks to her neighbors about the work she does, they are at first surprised to hear what she’s doing, then excited and want to hear more. We are settling into the lifestyle of a community organizer, but it is hard work and not always as fun as I thought it would be. We have to help plan strategic planning retreats on a tight budget, participate in grant writing and fundraising, and help navigate member crises and resolve conflict. Sometimes it feels like we move sticky notes around pieces of chart paper all day, mapping out who has power in our City and what we can do to win our campaigns. All staff is required to have leadership development goals and we are constantly learning how to hold one another accountable to what we say we’re going to do. We also have a lot of fun, coordinate political education workshops, plan community-building events with allied organizations, and celebrate our victories along the way. More organizations and businesses should prioritize hiring formerlyincarcerated people and transgender people in New Orleans, even if it means investing more time in developing peoples’ leadership. There are a lot of creative ways we can fund these positions, from workforce development partnerships, grassroots fundraising campaigns, pooling our resources, it’s our responsibility to find a way. When people in our city don’t have jobs, they are forced into the streets. It is not rocket science to understand that while the City wastes money on building bigger jails, one of the things that will really make this City safer is opportunity for meaningful employment.

AEDF’s Wednesdays on the Point

• Special occasion dessert catering services

Training the Next Generation to Fight Discrimination

lgiers Economic Development Foundation’s (AEDF) “Wednesdays on the Point” summer festival series was born in the summer of 2007. It was the brainchild of the local Algiers Point business community who hoped to increase guest traffic to Algiers Point during the slow summer months. At its inception, the weekly concerts were held at participating businesses throughout Algiers Point. As these weekly concerts grew, so did the need for a larger permanent space. Now AEDF’s Wednesdays on the Point calls the green space on the Mississippi Riverfront adjacent to the Algiers Ferry Terminal home to all eight of its free weekly summer concerts. Currently in its sixth year, AEDF’s Wednesdays on the Point offers a diverse musical line up. Past year’s highlights include John Cleary, George Porter Jr., Luther Kent, Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians, Irvin Mayfield, Latin night performances and our traditional closing act Amanda Shaw. The cuisine at the weekly events highlights delicious dishes from local restaurants, catering companies and organizations all located in Algiers.

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

2013 Schedule:

This year’s concert series runs from Wednesday, May 29 through July 17, 2013. All concerts are from 6-9 p.m. except for the annual 4th of July concert from 5-9 p.m. Shows are located at 200 Morgan Street on the riverside of the levee. All shows are free and open to the public. Please help us keep it free by supporting our vendors, leave outside food or beverages at home. • Wednesday, May 29, 2013: Brass-A-Holics “Gogo Brass Funk” Band, Mike & the Rhythm Devils (Jazz) • Wednesday, June 5, 2013: Bag of Donuts (Party Band), Algiers Brass Band (Traditional Brass Band) • Wednesday, June 12, 2013: Flow Tribe (Alternative Rock), MELOMANIA (Indie Rock) • Wednesday, June 19, 2013: Vivaz Latin Band (Latin), Julio & Cesar (Latin) • Wednesday, June 26, 2013: The New Orleans Suspects (New Orleans), The Mumbles (Blues) • Wednesday, July 4, 2012 (5-9PM) Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes (Funk), Egg Yolk Jubilee (Horn Band), Diablo Horns (Brass/Latin/NOLA)

• Wednesday, July 10, 2013: The Yat Pack (1940’s-1960’s Hits), DaRockits (1960’s-1970’s Hits) • Wednesday, July 17, 2013: Amanda Shaw & The Cute Guys (Cajun Rock), Lagniappe Brass Band (Brass Band)

Visit Algiers Point:

You can find many of the Founding Wednesdays on the Point businesses vending at the concerts or visit their storefronts in the historic Algiers Point. These founders include Bed & Breakfast on the Point, Crown & Anchor Pub, The Dry Dock, Gulf Pizza, Louie’s Bar, Rosetree Glass Studio, The Old Point Bar and Vine & Dine.

For More information on AEDF’s Wednesdays on the Point please visit our website at www.WednesdaysOnThePoint.com or www.AlgiersEconomic.com 27

Free Weatherization through Hard to Reach Program By: Jack Lien, Account Executive, CORE USA

esidents whose homes received up to $2,500 worth of weatherization enjoy life more. Houses weatherized by CORE USA between February and March will see a decrease in their utility bills in the upcoming months, especially during the summer. The candidates were chosen based on their income through the Hard to Reach Program, which ended in March, sponsored by CleaResult. A lower utility bill means more money in the pocket that can be used on other means. “My family is a lot more comfortable now, and I saved about $50 less on my electricity bill last month,” said Denise Anchor, mother of two and a childcare provider at home. Weatherization is the practice of protecting a building and its interior from the elements, particularly from sunlight, precipitation, wind, and of modifying a building to reduce energy consumption and optimize energy efficiency. Occupants should be more comfortable, healthier, and safer, and living in more energy efficient homes. “Knowing I made a difference in the homeowners’ lives was a great feeling to see the smiles on their faces,” said Brittany Williams, Building Performance Professional for CORE USA. CORE USA had enough funding allocated to weatherized 15 houses. “EnergySmart was designed by the City Council. The Hard to Reach Program was funded to decrease lower income residents’ energy use and energy bills,” said Bridget Joseph, Program Consultant for CleaResult.

Below is a list of what the residents received: • • • • •

Insulation Duct Sealing CFL Light Bulbs Air Sealing Combustion Gas Safety Test

The Hard to Reach Program was a pilot program, that ended in March.

About us:

CORE USA was founded as a sustainability consortium in New Orleans in 2010 to satisfy the growing need for public education and advanced professional certification training in environmental, economic, cultural and social sustainability in building and real estate services. The vision of CORE USA is to ensure environmental, economic, cultural, and social sustainability of individuals, families, and communities. CORE USA’s mission is to identify and eliminate barriers to sustainability within environmental, economic, cultural, and social systems. To organize, train and maintain a consortium of community partners and sustainability leaders who will educate, empower, and mobilize individuals, families, and communities. CORE USA is Green Business Bureau certified and specializes in training, consulting and project management within the framework of Conservation and Restoration Ecology. CORE USA’s CEO, Tilman Hardy, put forth his vision for the green rebuilding of the nation, including using energy efficiency training and education along with expanding environmental consciousness as tools to reestablish a vibrant and economically healthy world. With a skilled focus on sustainable development, CORE USA works with individuals, businesses, and communities educating, empowering and mobilizing members with common goals. As a supporter of CORE USA, you are a member-leader of the CORE USA Network, a consortium of community partners and sustainability professionals. Through the network, CORE USA hope to continue to foster a sustainable living movement, encouraging the efficient use of energy and resources in neighborhoods while raising awareness of wellness choices.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Jack Lien at 504.298.9556 or email Jack at jack@coreusa.org

Healthier Employees Are Happier Employees By: Peter T. Stevenson, Director of Recreation, Health and Wellness at Dillard University

or years the costs of health insurance has gone up and it’s still on the rise. Employers today are looking for ways to lower their cost for employee health care benefits. Studies have shown that a healthier staff lowers the cost of company insurance. Some employers do not even hire smokers or people with preexisting medical conditions. Workplace wellness programs not only increase productivity and job satisfaction, but also have major effects on employee’s health and wellbeing. Employees reduce their stress, learn ways of making incremental changes for overall health and reduce their personal health care costs. While technology has simplified transportation, communication and many other areas of our lives over the last 20 years, it has also decreased physical activity levels across the globe. A recent study published in Obesity Reviews found that physical activity levels in the United States, China, India, United Kingdom and Brazil have all declined in recent years due to a heavier reliance on technology in the workplace.

Researchers predict activity levels will continue to decline in the future. Because the sedentary nature of the workplace puts employees at risk for developing chronic diseases, there is an increasing need for employers to change the work environment to promote healthy behaviors. An employee wellness professional can work with employers to create comprehensive health and wellness programming that encourages physical activity throughout the workday. Sedentary jobs have risen 83 percent in the last 60 years and employees work on average 164 more hours a year than they did 20 years ago. Because of these changes to the work environment, it takes more effort for employees to stay on track with their health and wellness goals. Unfortunately a busy work week has led many employees to come up with a number of barriers that stop them from achieving their health goals. According to the Surgeon General’s Report, more than 60 percent of adults do not meet the recommended 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five times a week or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three times a

continued on page 29 28

THE TRUMPET | MARCH/APRIL | 2013

week. Additionally, 25 percent of adults are not active at all. These numbers largely affect health care costs for employers. Obese employees can cost 42 percent more in health care costs. A 2007 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that participants with an obese friend were 57 percent more likely to be obese. The effect was only influential at the friend level, not at the family level, which has significant implications for how employees influence each other at the health level. A positive result of the study found that this social effect also applied to weight loss, so creating a health culture in the workplace can motivate employees to get active. Especially when supported and utilized by upper management, employee health and wellness programs can enhance employee health while lowering employer health care costs. The key to promoting physical activity in the workplace is to offer tools that employees can implement into their daily routines. Encourage staff to participate in physical activity workshops or programs. Encourage nutritional workshops or healthy eating seminars. Provide fruits or other healthy snack alternatives when food is offered in meetings or training sessions. Changing the way employees work can also improve their health. Ask a workplace wellness professional about the benefits of active workstations or active conference rooms. These will get employees out of their seats for some of the workday, helping to keep them energized and focused. Even small

changes can largely benefit employee morale and productivity. Encourage managers to hold walking meetings outside on nice days. The fresh air and movement gives eyes a break from the computer screen and legs a chance to stretch. During long meetings indoors, incorporate stretch breaks or energizing activities periodically to keep employee engagement at a high. Employees can make some small health and wellness changes such as: • Try to get to bed earlier and get up earlier to work out two days a week • Put gym clothes in the car and go right to the fitness program after work • Prepare meals for a couple of days of the week (healthier eating) • Grocery shop over the weekend to help cut back on time spent during the week • Find ways to unwind and relax before you go to bed (helps the body to rejuvenate) • Participate in healthy activities that are stress relievers • Do something that is fun and that will put a smile on your face (laughter is the best form of medicine and it’s free) Being overworked and stressed can make you unhealthy, not as engaged, committed or satisfied. Your employer can do its part by creating a culture and workplace that supports employee health and wellness, but in the end, it’s up to you. By implementing some of these changes in our lives, we can help decrease healthcare costs while increasing employee health and productivity.

“Fatherhood is Far Greater Than Anything I Have Ever Experienced” By: Gregory Rattler, Jr., Director of Fatherhood Consortium

akir Tyehimba, a local businessman and educator, appreciates those titles, but the joy of fatherhood is what he has looked forward to for as long as he can remember. He is proud to be the father of nine children (eight biological and one adopted). To Bakir, fatherhood is a privilege and an honor. “I have three Kings and six Nations - three sons, six daughters - and I love all of my children,” he added. The former teacher and current owner of Black Star Cafe, says his theory of fatherhood is guided by an African proverb:”When a child is in the womb, it is the responsibility of the mother, but once it exits the womb, it becomes the responsibility of the entire village.” His name - Bakir - is a testament to his role as a father to young men and women in his community who may not have fathers in the home. “I want to be able to make the neighborhood safer for our elders to retire and relax in. I want to make the community more empowering and uplifting for our young brothers and sisters to grow and prosper in,” he explained. “I want all of this so that we can regain that sense of village which made our people such a strong and dynamic community.” Early experiences working with young men and women in local schools shaped his initial desire to be both a father and a father figure for the community. He added, “I always wanted to be the type of man that young brothers and sisters could come to for any type of wisdom or counsel they need. I have always wanted to be a big presence in the community for the good of the community.” Bakir is very honest about his path to fatherhood. Marrying early, he began his journey to build a life for his family at 22 years old . He offered, “I am a Cancer, so I have a nurturing side. So I always wanted a lot of kids - always knew I would have a lot of children. The way I thought things would happen may be different but I have been looking toward the experience and joy of fatherhood.” His excitement for the birth of his first child - a son, Zaire - was a joy too difficult to put into words. He was so excited to hold his son and begin teaching him and watching him grow. He offered, “It was far greater than anything I experienced in my life or could have imagined.” Bakir expressed the same joy and overwhelming pride for the birth of each of his children. In his eyes, his children are his legacy to move his community forward and improve the quality of life for his people. Often, when people ask him how he turned out the way he did, he

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

immediately points to the significant maternal influences he’s had. Growing up, Bakir explained, “My dad was around but his presence and time were limited. I would see him from time to time but not as regularly as I needed to as a young boy. However, I have uncles and the rest of my dad’s family who made sure to take up the time that he left. Wherever my daddy left time and space empty, I was still able to get the love and support from the rest of my family.” To Bakir, his father’s inconsistency helped him develop an awareness for his own responsibility to father with his time and presence. He refused to give his children reason to wonder where their father is and if he will be part of their life. Being a father motivated Bakir to rebuild his relationship with his own father. The freedom of a healthy relationship with his father helped him along the road of raising his own children. For Bakir, fatherhood presented him with challenging situations that have humbled and enabled him to learn and grow. “I wanted so badly for my son to be like me that I didn’t understand the person that he was becoming. As he grew up, he also grew into his own personality. I struggled with letting my son grow up into who he wanted to be,” he explained. “The concept of growth is amazing to me so I had to accept certain things in order for both my son and I to grow and our relationship to do the same thing.” From his earliest days as a student at Xavier University to his current status as a successful business owner, Bakir has always prepared himself to take up his role as father and father-figure. In today’s society, it is rare we find men willing to reach beyond the boundaries of their home and effect a positive change in the lives of children in our communities, playgrounds, and schools. These men are jewels because of the selfless commitment they make to ensure the next generation is successful. We need to be more intentional about lifting up men like Bakir. The journey to fatherhood is one of a million paths without a manual. At the New Orleans Fatherhood Consortium, we recognize there are men like Bakir all over our great city brave enough to use their own life experiences to create a manual for raising respectful, productive children. It is an honor to highlight the stories of the fathers and father-figures who so often show us their work but seldom tell us their story. Please take the time to tell your father or any father you know how much you acknowledge his time, love, and sacrifice.

Algiers Point Association Every 1st Thursday of the month @ 7 p.m. Location changes each month www.algierspoint.org Broadmoor Improvement Association 3rd Monday of every other month @ 7 p.m. Andrew H. Wilson Charter School Cafeteria 3617 General Pershing St. New Orleans, LA 70125 http://www.broadmoorimprovement.com Bunny Friends Neighborhood Association Every second Saturday of the month Mt. Carmel Baptist Church 3721 N Claiborne Ave Bywater Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. Holy Angels Cafeteria 3500 St. Claude Ave. www.bywaterneighbors.com Carrollton Riverbend Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Thursday of the month Parish Hall of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Corner of Carrollton and Zimple Carrollton United Every second Monday at 5:00p.m. every other month St. John Missionary Baptist Church, corner of Leonidas and Hickory Central City Partnership Every last Friday of the month @ 1 p.m. Allie Mae Williams Center 2020 Jackson Ave. http://www.centralcitypartnership.org

Neighborhood Meetings

Central City Renaissance Alliance (CCRA) 1809 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. http://www.myccra.org Chapel of the Holy Comforter Every 4th Thursday of the month @ 6:30p.m. 2200 Lakeshore Drive Claiborne-University Neighborhood Association Quarterly Meetings, time and date TBA Jewish Community Center 5342 St. Charles Ave Downtown Neighborhood Improvement Association (DNIA) Every last Tuesday of the month @ 7p.m. Joan Mitchell Center 2275 Bayou Road (the corner building on Rocheblave and Bayou Road) DeSaix Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Saturday of the month @10a.m. Langhston Hughes Academy 3519 Trafalgar Street http://danadesaix.org East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Committee (ENONAC) Every 2rd Tuesday of each month @ 6 p.m. St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church http://www.enonac.org Faubourg Delachaise Neighborhood Association Quarterly meetings, time/date/ location TBA http://fdna-nola.org

Faubourg St. John Neighborhood Association Board Meeting: Every 2nd Monday 7p.m. Holy Rosary Cafeteria 1638 Moss Street General Membership: 3rd Wednesday, every other month 6:30 p.m. Black Gold Room at the Fairgrounds http://www.fsjna.org

Gentilly Terrace and Gardens Improvement Association Every 2nd Wednesday of the month @ 7pm Gentilly Terrace School 4720 Painters St. http://www.gentillyterrace.org

Faubourg St. Roch Improvement Association Every 2nd Thursday of the month @ 6:00p.m. True Vine Baptist Church 2008 Marigny St. Filmore Gardens Neighborhood Association (meets every two months) 5506 Wickfield Street Project Home Again 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Garden District Association 1 annual meeting per year, time/date/ location TBA Gentilly Civic Improvement Association (GCIA) General Membership- Every 3rd Saturday of the month 10am Board Meeting - Every 3rd Wednesday of the month 6:30p.m. Edgewater Baptist Church 5900 Paris Ave. Gentilly Heights East Neighborhood Association Every 3rd Monday of the month @ 6p.m. Dillard University Dent Hall – Room 104 Gentilly Sugar Hill Neighborhood Association Every 3rd Monday of the month @ 6:30p.m . VOA – 2929 St. Anthony Ave. (meetings on hold until further notice)

Hoffman Triangle Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 5:30 p.m. Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church 3327 Toledano Street Hollygrove Neighbors Association Saturdays at 12:00 (noon) St. Peter AME Church 3424 Eagle St. (Eage St. and Edinburgh St.) www.neighborhoodlink.com (type in 70118 and click on “Hollygrove Neighbors”) blog us at http://www. hollygroveneighbors.blogspot.com/ Holy Cross Neighborhood Association Every 2nd Thursday @ 5:30 p.m. Center for Sustainability, Greater Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church 5130 Chartres, Lizardi and Chartres http://www.helpholycross.org Irish Channel Neighborhood Association 2nd Thursday of the month at 7p.m. Irish Channel Christian Fellowship 819 First St. http://www.irishchannel.org Lake Bullard Homeowners Association See website for meeting schedule Cornerstone United Methodist Church 5276 Bullard Ave. http://www.lakebullard.org Lake Catherine Civic Association Every 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 7p.m.

Get connected to the Neighborhoods Partnership Network. Post news & events for your organization at NPNnola.com 30

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

Lake Willow Neighborhood Every 2nd Saturday of the month @ 10 a.m. St. Maria Goretti Church Lower Ninth Ward Neighborhood Empowerment Network Association (NENA) Every 2nd Saturday @ 12 noon NENA – 1120 Lamanche St. http://www.9thwardnena.org Melia Subdivision Every 2rd Saturday of the month @ 5 p.m. Anchoren in Christ Church 4334 Stemway Drive Mid-City Neighborhood Organization General Meeting – Second Monday of every month @ 6:00 p.m. meet-and-greet @ 6:30 p.m. Neighborhood Meeting Warren Easton High School 3019 Canal St. http://www.mcno.org Milneburg Neighborhood Association Chapel of the Holy Comforter 2200 Lakeshore Dr. 6:30 p.m. Monthly meetings are every 4th Thursday of the month Oak Park Civic Association Every 3rd or last Tuesday of the month

Ask City Hall

Paris Oaks/Bayou Vista Neighborhood Association Last Saturday of every month @ 4p.m. Third District Police Station 4650 Paris Avenue

Seabrook Neighborhood Association Monthly meetings are every second Monday Gentilly Terrace School 4720 Painters Street

Pensiontown of Carrollton Neighborhood Association Every 1st Saturday of the month @ 2p.m. Leonidas House Community Center (under renovation) 1407 Leonidas St. Temporarily housed at St. Paul AME Church, 8540 Cohn St. (corner of Leonidas and Cohn)

Tall Timbers Owners Association Semi-annual meetings: Second Wednesday of October & April 7p.m. Board meetings: Second Wednesday of every other month 7 p.m

Pontilly Association Pontilly Disaster Collaborative – Every 3rd Wednesday of the month General Meeting – every 2nd Saturday of the month http://www.pontilly.com Rosedale Subdivision Last Friday of every month @5:30 Greater Bright Morning Star Baptist Church, 4253 Dale Street Seventh Ward Neighborhood Association Quarterly, 3rd Saturday @ 1 p.m. St. Augustine High School 2600 A.P. Tureaud Ave (A.P Tureaud and Law Street) Contact: seventhwardassoc@aol.com

Tunisburg Square Homeowners Civic Association, Inc. Every 2nd Monday of the month @ 6:30 p.m. http://tunisburg.org Village de l’Est Improvement Association General Meeting - Every other first Tuesday of the month @ 7pm Einstein Charter School 5100 Cannes St West Barrington Association 1st Tuesday of every month @ 6p.m. Holiday Inn Express 70219 Bullard Avenue

Send your neighborhood meeting details to: Melissa@NPNnola.com

Neighborhoods Partnership Network 4902 Canal Street • #301 New Orleans, LA 70119 504.940.2207 • FX 504.940.2208 TheTrumpet@npnnola.com

THE TRUMPET | MAY/JUNE | 2013

District A Susan G. Guidry City Hall, Room 2W80 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 658-1010 Fax: (504) 658-1016 Email: sgguidry@nola.gov District B LaToya Cantrell City Hall, Room 2W10 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 658-1020 Fax: (504) 658-1025 lcantrell@nola.gov District C Kristin Gisleson Palmer City Hall, Room 2W70 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658-1030 Fax: (504) 658-1037 Email: kgpalmer@nola.gov District D Cynthia Hedge-Morrell City Hall, Room 2W20 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658-1040 Fax: (504) 658-1048 E-mail: chmorrell@nola.gov District E James Austin Gray II City Hall, Room 2W60 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 658-1050 Fax: (504) 658-1058 Email: jagray@nola.gov Council Member-At-Large Stacy Head City Hall, Room 2W40 1300 Perdido Street Phone: (504) 658 -1060 Fax: (504) 658-1068 Email: shead@nola.gov Council Member-At-Large Jacquelyn Clarkson City Hall, Room 2W50 1300 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 658-1070 Fax: (504) 658-1077 Email: jbclarkson@nola.gov

NEIGH B SPOT ORHOOD LIGHT ol

d alg iers Photo: Heidi Hickman